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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Ckai). ...... Copyright No 

Sheir.T^f? 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




B. F. FULLER, 

OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PARIS, TEXAS. 



History of 

Texas Baptists, 



BY 



B- F. FULLER 

Of the First Baptist Church of Paris, Texas. 



LOUISVILLE, KY 
BAPTIST BOOK CONCERN. 

1900. 



70938 



NOV 5 1900 
stcuso copy. 

OSDfcU DMSION, 
[NOV 17 1900 






& 






Entered According to an Act of Congress in the year 1900 

B. f. FULLER, 

In the Office of Librarian, Washington, D. C. 



DEDICATION. 



To the three hundred thousand Texas 



Baptists contending earnestly for the faith 

once delivered to the saints this book is 

dedicated. 

The Author, 



CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER I.— What Is a Church?. Pages. . . 11-17 

CHAPTER II.— Officers of a Church. Pages. . 17-25 

CHAPTER III.— Doctrines of Baptists. Pages 25-35 

CHAPTER 1Y.— Ordinances of a Church. 

Pages 35-44 

CHAPTER V.— The Government of a Church. 

Pages 44-55 

CHAPTER VI.— What Is the Relation of 

Churches to Associations? Pages 55-61 

CHAPTER VII.— A General Sketch of Bap- 
tists. Pages 61-68 

CHAPTER VIIL— The Introduction of the 

Gospel into Texas. Pages 68-76 

CHAPTER IX.— Baptists in Texas Prior to 
the Declaration of Texas Independence, 
March 2, 1836. Pages 76-86 

CHAPTER X.— From the Declaration of Texas 
Independence, March 2, 1836, to the Organi- 
zation of the First Baptist Association, Octo- 
ber 9, 1840. Pages 86-106 

CHAPTER XL— 1840 and 1811. The First 

Baptist Association in Texas. Pages 106-120 

CHAPTER XII.— The' Baptist Education So- 
ciety — From Its Organization in 1841, to Its 
Disappearance in 1860. Pages 120-126 



Contents. 

CHAPTER XIII.— From the Organization of 
the First Baptist Association in Texas in 
1840, to the Invasion by the Mexican Gen- 
" eral, Wool, in 1842. Pages 126-130 

CHAPTER XIV.— From Wool's Invasion, Sep- 
tember, 1842, to the Founding of Bavlor 
University, February 1, 1845. Pages. . . . . . .130-138 

CHAPTER XV.— From the Founding of Bay- 
lor University, February 1, 1845, to the Or- 
ganization of the Baptist State Convention. 
September 9, 1848. Pages 138-149 

CHAPTER XVI.— From the Organization of 
the Baptist State Convention, September 9, 
1848, to the Organization of the Baptist Con- 
vention of Eastern Texas, May 25, 1855. 
Pages 149-168 

CHAPTER XVII.— From the Organization of 
the Baptist Convention of Eastern Texas, 
May 25, 1855, to the Commencement of the 
Confederate War, the Ordinance of Secession 
Being Adopted on the 23d dav of February, 
1861. Pages 168-181 

CHAPTER XVIIL— During the War, From 
the Adoption of the Ordinance of Secession, 
February 23, 1861, to the Conclusion of the 
War, in May, 1865. Pages 181-190 

CHAPTER XIX.— From the Conclusion of the 
War in May 1865, to the Formation of the 
Baptist General Association of Texas, July 
17, 1868. Pages 190-204 



Contents. 

CHAPTER XX.— The Baptist State Conven- 
tion, from the Organization of the Baptist 
General Association, July 17, 1868, to the 
Consolidation of These General Bodies in 
December, 1885. Pages 204-219 

CHAPTER XXI.— The Baptist General Asso- 
ciation of Texas, from Its Organization, July 
17, 1868, to Its Consolidation with the Bap- 
tist State Convention in December, 1885. 
Pages 219-230 

CHAPTER XXII.— Three Other General Mis- 
sionary Bodies, from Their Organization to 
Their Final Incorporation with the Other 
General Body. Pages 230-235 

CHAPTER XXIII.— Our Educational Enter- 
prises, from the Formation of the Baptist 
General Association of Texas, July 17, 1868, 
to the Consolidation of the Schools in Decem- 
ber, 1885. Pages 235-252 

CHAPTER XXIV.— The Sunday-school and 

Colportagc Convention. Pages 252-263 

CHAPTER XXV.— Baptist Newspapers in 
Texas from 1868, to the Consolidation of 
Papers in July, 1886. Pages . .263-266 

CHAPTER XXVI.— District Associations 

from 1868 to the Present Time. Pages 266-291 



CHAPTER XXVII.— Texas German Baptists. 

Pages 291-297 



CHAPTER XXVIII.— Buckner Orphans' 
Home from Its First Conception in 1877. 
Pages 297-306 



Contents 

CHAPTER XXIX.— The Baptist General Con- 
vention, from the Consolidation of the Gen- 
eral Bodies, December 9, 1885, to the Present 
Time. Pages 305-328 

CHAPTER XXX.— Other Smaller Bodies Co- 
operating with the General Work of the Con- 
vention. Pages 328-333 

CHAPTER XXXI.— The Educational Enter- 
prises of Texas Baptists, from the Consolida- 
tion of the Universities on the 9th of De- 
cember, 1885, to 1900. Pages 333-351 

CHAPTER XXXII.— The Texas Baptist Sun- 
day-school and Colportage Convention, from 
the Consolidation of the Two Sunday-school 
Conventions at Ennis, Julv 23, 1885, to the 
Present Time, 1900. Pages 351-360 

CHAPTER XXXIII.— Baptist Newspapers in 
Texas Since the Consolidation, in 1886. 
Pages 360-364 

CHAPTER XXXIV.— Historical Sketch of a 
Few of the Strongest Baptist Churches in 
Texas. Pages 364-383 

CHAPTER XXXV.— Heresies. Pages 383-409 

CHAPTER XXXVI.— The Legal Aspect of 
the Ownership of Church Property in Texas. 
Pages 409-467 



APPENDIX. Pages 467-489 



PREFACE. 

Retiring from a long professional life at the bar, I 
have devoted myself to the preparation of this history 
of the Baptists of Texas. To this denomination I have 
belonged for sixty years, and my forefathers for gener- 
ations have followed its teachings. 

Having been for more than half a century a partici- 
pant in the affairs of the denomination in this State, 
watching with pride and joy its growth and triumphs, 
and the happy influence of its works, and now desiring 
to perpetuate the history of its achievements, and keep 
green the memory of the illustrious names it has given 
to God and to the country; and, above all, to promote 
the interest of the great Baptist brotherhood of Texas, 
and thereby advance the kingdom of our Lord and Mas- 
ter, this work is submitted to our people and to the read- 
ing public. It is not controversial or partisan in any 
sense, nor is it intended to be exhaustively doctrinal. 
The purpose is to give a concise and distinct statement 
of the doctrines and polity of Baptists, as approved by 
the best standards, and practiced most generally by reg- 
ular Baptist churches and measured by the New Testa- 
ment. 

The work is intended to be mainly historical, but is 
interwoven to some extent with expositions of prominent 
Baptist principles. Panegyric has been avoided, and the 
interest of no individual or organization is intended to 
be specially subserved. The life and works of men and 

(9) 



10 Preface. 

the history of bodies have been referred to as these be- 
came an essential part of Texas Baptist history, but un- 
pleasant, personal incidents have been ignored, as being 
unprofitable. 

The execution of the work has required great labor 
and research. The materials utilized have embraced 
every pertinent publication available; many manuscript 
memoranda, personal correspondence, and interviews 
with men whose knowledge extends to our earliest history, 
aided by personal observation and recollection. 

It is the sincere hope of the author that this book 
may be kindly received by the great Baptist brotherhood 
of Texas, and that it may be found to be a useful addi- 
tion to Baptist literature and an efficient agent in dis- 
seminating a sound religious faith, and contributing in 
an humble way to good government and correct morals. 



HISTORY OF TEXAS BAPTISTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

In entering upon a detailed history of the Baptists 
and Baptist churches of this great Commonwealth, it 
seems proper that this should be preceded by a resume 
of the faith and polity of Baptists, as held and practiced 
in all ages of their history, and which distinguish them 
still as a peculiar people. 

WHAT IS A CHURCH ? 

It is of prime importance to have well grounded and 
settled in the mind the correct idea as to what constitutes 
a true church of Jesus Christ, and of the frame-work or 
material of which this habitation of our God is builded 
at the very threshold of a Christian life, else the inter- 
pretations of its polity and doctrines must be confused 
and erroneous, and will continually diverge from the 
true and only standard — the New Testament. 

A church is a congregation of baptized believers 
united in a holy covenant to observe the teachings and 
execute the will of Christ. A church is a local body of 
disciples, meeting in one place for worship. Still, it must 
be remembered that the term church is used in the New 
Testament in another sense. In some passages it would 
be erroneous to say that the term church as there used 
applies to a particular local congregation of believers 

(ii) 



12 History of Texas Baptists. 

meeting in one place to worship God. Among these pas- 
sages may be cited Eph. 1 :22 : "And hath put all things 
under His feet and gave Him to be the head over all 
things to the church." Also 3:21: "Unto Him be glory 
in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world 
without end.'' Also chapter 5:25: "Husbands, love 
your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and 
gave himself for it." Also Matt. 16:18: "Thou art 
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." 

But at the same time it must be noted that in these 
passages and a few others of the same import the term 
church is used in a figurative sense only, corresponding 
with the oft-repeated expressions of "the kingdom of 
heaven," "the kingdom of God," etc. But in a very 
large majority of instances it is used in the Scriptures to 
denote a local body, united by a common faith in Christ. 
To this agree such ever recurring expressions as "the 
church of Jerusalem," "the church of God, which is at 
Corinth, "the church of the Thessalonians," "the church 
of Ephesus," "the churches of Asia," "the churches 
throughout all Judea," "the church in Pergamos," and 
others. 

This, doubtless, is the primary meaning of the term. 
It is accepted everywhere by Baptists that there can be 
no such thing as "the Baptist church;" that there is no 
general Baptist church under one government; but that 
the separate, independent churches, holding in the main. 
a common faith, constitute the Baptist denomination. 
A confederation of religious bodies, combined under one 
government, or a system of ecclesiasticism uniting all of 
the same faith into one hierarchy, as in other denomina- 
tions, is not a Christian church, according to any known 



13 

authority ot the New Testament, although such a desig- 
nation is often so given by meri. 

Neither can there properly be any such thing as a 
national church in the true sense of that term. "The 
English church." "the church of Rome/ 3 "the Russian 
church." are misleading expressions, wholly unauthorized 

he divine Founder, and are dishonoring to Him. The 
New Hampshire Confession of Faith, which is now most 
generally adopted by Baptists, defines a church as fol- 
lows: 

"A visible church of Christ is a congregation o: 
tized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and 
fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances :f 
Christ, governed by His law; exercising the gifts, rights 
and privileges invested in them by His Word." 

Baptists reject all those fictitious conceptions of what 
a church is. having origin wholly without the Bible, and 
they adhere strictly to the Xew Testament idea of a 
Christian church as the only divinely organized body on 
the earth, each church being "an habitation of God 
through the Spirit,* 3 "a building fitly framed together 
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.*'' combining 
these essentials : 1 1 1 That it be made up of the right 
materials, to-wit. baptized believers : (2) that it be fitly 
framed together, and (3) that God dwell in it. 

This leads us to consider whc :an properly be :. 
member of a church, as above defined. Who can form 
an integral part of a gospel church? Who are fit ma- 
terial for the frame-work of this habitation of God? The 
spiritual prerequisites of church membership, according 
tc Xew Testament teaching as understood by Bapt:s r s. 
are. first of all : 



11 History of Texas Baptists. 

1. Repentance. — In the very "beginning of the Gos 
pel of Jesus Christ/' at the very dawn of the light of 
Christianity, the very first note that was heard was the 
voice of John the Baptist heralding the everlasting king- 
dom with the proclamation, "Repent ye, for the kingdom 
of heaven is at hand." Soon the voice of the Christ was 
heard in Galilee saying, "The time is fulfilled and the 
kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the 
Gospel." Later, when the apostles were commissioned, 
they preached "that men should repent." Jesus said 
after His resurrection, " Repentance and remission of 
sins should be preached in His name." On the day of 
Pentecost Peter said, "Repent and be baptized in the 
name of Jesus Christ." And Paul said at Athens, "God 
commands all men everywhere to repent." Eepentance 
is interwoven in the very texture of the Gospel. 

2. Faith. — Following repentance there must be 
faith in Christ. In the economy of grace faith is exalted 
to the highest importance. The Scriptures are full of it, 
as is shown by such passages as "He that believeth on the 
Son hath everlasting life;" "He that believeth and is 
baptized shall be saved;" "Therefore, being justified by 
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus 
Christ ;" "Being justified by faith, we have peace with 
God;" "By grace are ye saved through faith;" and 
"Without faith it is impossible to please God." From 
these and many other passages of the same import it very 
clearly appears that saving faith gives the believer his 
power with God, and is "the mightiest instrument ever 
used by mortals." Saving faith unites the soul to God 
and bestows upon it His mighty strength : infuses into it 
Almighty impulses; extends to it His all-prevailing in- 



What Is a Church? 15 

tercession and mediation, and imputes to it His spotless 
righteousness. Faith is the gift of God. 

3. Regeneration. — It would scarcely seem necessary 
to refer to regeneration as a distinctive prerequisite to 
church membership, after what has been written of re- 
pentance and faith; they necessarily include regenera- 
tion, and they are co-existent. Every person who has 
repented and believed is a regenerate person; "has be- 
come a new creature in Christ ;" "is born again ;" "born 
of the Spirit," and "quickened together with Christ." 
If faith, then, is required, regeneration must also be as 
a prerequisite to baptism and church membership. 

Having seen what are the moral prerequisites to 
church membership, it remains for us to inquire what 
ceremony is required to bring a believer, a regenerated 
person, into church relations in a visible church. 

BAPTISM. 

Pendleton designates baptism as the ceremonial qual- 
ification for church membership. Wm. Croell, in his 
excellent work, refers to baptism as a perpetual ordi- 
nance, symbolizing the separation of believers from the 
world, their spiritual union to Christ, and visible union 
to the church. Hiscox truthfully says that without bap- 
tism there could be no Christian churches. There is no 
other way by which one can be received as a member of 
the church except through baptism, which is a public 
confession of faith in Christ, and without which no evi- 
dence of fitness for church membership becomes ap- 
parent. The Confession of Faith of the London Bap- 
tists of 1611 says: "Every church is to receive in all 



16 History of Texas Baptists. 

their members by baptism upon a confession of their 
faith." The Confession of 1646 says: "The church is 
a company of visible saints, baptized into the faith and 
joined to the Lord, which is a visible profession of the 
faith of the Gospel.'' The New Hampshire Confession 
of Faith declares "that a visible church of Christ is a 
congregation of baptized believers." Surely nothing 
more can be demanded to show that the views of Bap- 
tists have ever been that there can be no visible church 
without baptism. And that this is the Bible view clearly 
appears from the very terms of the great commission, 
"Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit/' Fol- 
lowing closely upon the giving of this high commission, 
which is never to be annulled, Pentecost occurred, and 
at the preaching of Peter thousands accepted salvation, 
and the inspired record reads: "Then they that gladly 
received His word were baptized, and the same day there 
were added unto them about 3,000 souls;" and "The 
Lord added to the church daily the saved." We conclude, 
therefore, that there can be nothing more certain than 
that baptism is prerequisite to church membership. . 



CHAPTER II. 



OFFICERS OF A CHURCH. 



Having seen what a church is and who are entitled 
to membership in that body, we now proceed to inquire 
what are the proper officers for a church. Baptists un- 
derstand the teaching of the New Testament to be that 
pastors and deacons are the only permanent officers of a 
church, as we read in Phil. 1:1: "To all the saints in 
Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, with the bishops 
and deacons/' which manifestly shows only these three 
classes: Saints (church members), bishops (pastors) 
and deacons. However, it must be understood that even 
these officers are not absolutely necessary to the being 
of a church, for a church must first exist before these 
offices can be filled, and after being filled are liable to 
become vacant by death or other causes, without endan- 
gering the existence of the church; but the prosperity and 
usefulness of a church would doubtless be greatly mini- 
mized by lack of these officers. 

Pastors. — In the New Testament, pastors are some- 
times designated as the overseer, or the elder, or the 
bishop of the church. But what is implied by all these 
terms is beautifully expressed in the term pastor — shep- 
herd. As the shepherd leadeth his sheep to rich pastures, 
so should the pastor of the church lead his flock, by 
pleasant paths, to the richest graces and to good works. 
As the shepherd must watch over, care for and provide 

(17) 



18 History of Texas Baptists. 

food for his sheep and his lambs, so must the pastor do 
as our Savior commanded Peter: "Feed my sheep; feed 
my lambs.*'* One author beautifully expresses it thus: 
"The nature of the relation of the pastor to the church 
is that of leading, feeding, guiding and guarding the 
flock committed to his care." 

It should be remarked, however, that a pastor should 
be, first of all, a teacher ; not a teacher of philosophy or 
logic; not a teacher of elocution or any special science. 
All these should be drawn upon as aids in his great work 
of teaching sinners the way of salvation, as Paul did be- 
fore Felix, when he "reasoned of righteousness, temper- 
ance and judgment to come.** The great work of the 
minister is to preach Christ and Him crucified. A pol- 
ished piece of pulpit oratory may please, may delight, 
and even may stir the hearers to great enthusiasm, but 
if it be not full of Christ it is a failure as a sermon. 
Just at this point some able ministers fail as pastors. 

Christians are not led to higher life, and sinners are 
not led to Christ. After all. this kind of preaching is 
not what the world is seeking. It does not satisfy the 
Christian's longing for spiritual food, and it does not 
meet the expectation of the world, who look upon the 
kingdom of Christ as purely spiritual. Plain, practical, 
and intensely spiritual preaching is most attractive and 
acceptable to all classes. The world has furnished many 
great pulpit orators, but perhaps the most popular 
preachers it has ever known is Charles H. Spurgeon. of 
London, and D wight L. Moody, of America, the great 
exemplars of this plain, practical, spiritual preaching. 
Xeither of these great preacher= has ever affected great 
learning or eloquence, yet unprecedented crowds of all 



Officers of a Church. 19 

classes of people have flocked to their ministry, and 
hung with delight upon their words. Their great Chris- 
tian work will live after them and brighten lifers path- 
way for thousands, when the brilliant pulpit orator, with 
his embellished work, shall be forgotten. 

The idea must not for a moment be entertained, how- 
ever, that there is any intention here to decry the em- 
bellishments and power of learning and oratory in the 
ministry; but only that these are useful so far as they 
may conduce to the great end and aim of all preaching — 
the leading of sinners to Christ. A sermon that does not 
have this directly in view is a failure. That church that 
does not have this directly in view in all its services and 
church work, in all its contributions and prayers, can 
give no good reason for its existence The indispensable 
qualification for a pastor, however, always and every- 
where, is supreme love to Christ. 

Churches in their independent capacity voluntarily 
choose their own pastors, free from any control or direc- 
tion of any other authority. As to the length of time of 
the pastorate there is no uniformity, and no direction in 
the Xew Testament. Annual calls are perhaps most 
common. Pendleton, however, severely condemns this 
custom, and characterizes it as "vastly injurious, both 
to pastors and churches/' and thinks pastors should al- 
ways be chosen for an indefinite period. We would not 
dissent from such high authority without the greatest 
caution. But we do not hesitate to say that actual ex- 
perience and long and varied observation fail utterly to 
verify the wisdom of this view. The idea seems to pre- 
vail to a great extent among our ministers that there is 
more dignity in an indefinite call to the pastorate; but 



20 History of Texas Baptists. 

dignity is not the thing to be sought. The idea seems 
also to prevail that indefinite calls make the pastorate 
longer and more permanent; but the same observation 
fails to verify this proposition. 

A pastor can never continue with profit or pleasant- 
ness to the church or to the pastor, and with any promise 
of good to the cause of Christ, longer than there is mu- 
tual co-operation and fellowship, regardless of the fact 
as to whether the call is definite or indefinite. It is freely 
admitted that there are always possibly a few discontent- 
ed members in churches who cannot be harmonized, and 
who might properly be ignored; but when any consid- 
erable number think a change is desirable, from any cause 
whatever, and refuse to co-operate with the pastor, re- 
gardless of who is right or who is wrong, right then the 
relation of pastor and church should end. Such discon- 
tented members may be, and often are, entirely wrong 
and unreasonable, and very much need to mend their 
ways; but a continuation of the pastorate is not the 
remedy. 

A high Baptist authority says: "If the pastor him- 
self, after prayerful consideration, believes it his duty to 
leave, let him act accordingly. Let a minister flee 'church 
quarrels'' as he would a pestilence. He may not be re- 
sponsible for them, but if he becomes involved, though 
the merits of the case be on his side, yet he cannot re- 
main to fight them out without suffering more in peace 
of mind and reputation than any victory he might win 
would be worth." 

Some ministers seem to take the one-sided view iD 
this matter that indefinite calls are a sovereign remedy 
for all the troubles in pastoral life, and therefore con- 



Officers of a Church. 21 

demn annual calls as being "not only unscriptural, but 
hurtful to the cause of Christ." The passages of Scrip- 
ture, however, that are violated by annual calls, and good 
reasons to indicate their hurtful tendency, have not been 
pointed out. They make the serious mistake of looking 
upon annual calls as identical with short pastorates, and 
indefinite calls as identical with long pastorates; when, 
in fact, there is absolutely no connection between them. 

Indefinite calls do not quiet dissatisfaction if it ex- 
ists, but such dissatisfaction can, and often does, mani- 
fest itself in ways much more hurtful than casting a 
negative vote on an annual call. The independent spirit 
that permeates the Baptist brotherhood always and every- 
where manifests itself in such matters, and indefinite 
calls are apt to be looked upon by the minority as an 
effort to muzzle them, and thereby suppress opposition. 
It is aggravating, rather than suppressing any dissatis- 
faction, and everything being indefinite and unsettled, 
there is a continual agitation. A call of a pastor for a 
definite length of time — one year, two years or more — 
settles the matter for that period, and agitation ceases 
for the time. 

The indefinite pastorates, that have been happy and 
harmonious, and have been special blessings to the cause 
of Christ, are those which have become so, not by a vote 
of the church, but, as it were, by limitation. As, when 
the relation of pastor and church have been so harmoni- 
ous, that the time for the stated election by common 
consent is passed over without notice, the pastorate thus 
grows to be indefinite, and should be commended and up- 
held without limit of years. Besides all this, it must be 
admitted that short pastorates are not an unmixed evil, 



22 History of Texas Baptists. 

as long pastorates are not without their trials and short- 
comings. 

Few preachers are able to interest and edify the same 
congregation at the same place for an indefinite time. 
They often outlive their usefulness in a given place, but 
may be a great power for good in another lield. Happy 
is the pastor who observes and recognizes this fact. It 
must not be inferred that there is any effort here to en- 
courage frequent changes of pastors. On the contrary, 
the proposition is fully asserted that this restlessness in 
the church, and fault finding and mania for a change of 
pastors, are the crying evils in our brotherhood. The 
unqualified obligation rests upon every member of a 
church to make great sacrifices to harmonize with the 
pastor in all his work, and to see that the sacred relation 
of pastor and church should not be broken, unless the 
cause of Christ and the interest of the church demand it. 
Those restless spirits in the church, who are always 
"studious of change/' and are continually looking for 
something that can never be realized, should be recon- 
structed, if possible. 

Deacons. — The office of deacon doubtless originated 
in the condition of affairs in the church at Jerasulem, 
referred to in the sixth chapter of Acts. It became ap- 
parent to the apostles that the temporalities of the church 
were becoming so burdensome to them as to materially 
interfere with their spiritual ministration of the Word. 
They therefore proposed to the church to appoint some 
laymen over this business, that they might "give them- 
selves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the 
Word/' The church then appointed seven men "of hon- 
est report and full of the Holy Ghost," and set them 



Officers of a Church. 23 

apart to this business. Although they were not called 
"deacons/'' yet as these same qualifications and similar 
services were afterwards required by the apostles of those 
officers of the church who were then called "deacons," 
we conclude that this was. the origin of the dioconate. 
In the third chapter of 1st Timothy the Apostle Paul 
required the same spotless character and exemplary life 
in deacons that were required of those seven appointed 
by the church at Jerusalem. Baptists utterly reject the 
contention that the deaconship constitutes an order in 
the ministry. They assert that, although a deacon is 
in one sense a minister, he is only to minister in tem- 
poralities and assist the pastor in all matters connected 
with the welfare of the church. It is also considered the 
special duty of a deacon to take charge of the communion 
service and distribute the bread and the wine. 

The Board of Deacons have charge of the whole finan- 
cial business of the church, and, in the language of one 
author, "it should never be forgotten that deacons are, 
by virtue of their office, the treasurers of the church.''* 
To appoint any other member to act as treasurer is not 
warranted by Scripture. They may, however, appoint 
one of their own number to receive and pay out funds 
and keep accounts. Deacons are to be chosen by the 
church, and are set apart to their office and work by 
prayer and laying on of hands, indicating the sacred and 
important duties committed to them, in imitation of the 
manner of the apostles in ordaining the seven first dea- 
con at Jerusalem. 

The duties and qualifications of deacons are so im- 
portant and varied that the progress and efficiency of 
church work to a great extent are dependent upon them. 



24 History of Texas Baptists. 

It is greatly to be lamented that many of our churches 
attach so little importance to the deaconship. It is even 
eaid that some churches hold such loose views on this 
subject, and are so ignorant of the high estimate and 
sacred importance placed on this office by the apostles, 
as to elect their deacons annually, or for some definite 
period of time, and omit the ordination and laying on 
of hands entirely, as though it were of no more im- 
portance than appointing a common committee. This 
degrades the dioconate, and minimizes the heaven-or- 
dained office and work of deacons. Deacons should be 
chosen for an indefinite period, and be solemnly ordained, 
according to the example given in Acts 6:6: "When 
they had prayed they laid hands on them." The office 
should be no less permanent than that of the ministry. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE DOCTRINES OF BAPTISTS. 

All churches are organized on some definite creed or 
belief as to what the Bible teaches. This creed is most 
generally set forth in a written Confession of Faith. It 
is said that some churches exist without this. It is 
nevertheless true that no church can exist without a 
creed, either written or unwritten. If we can conceive 
of the existence of a church without any written declara- 
tion of faith, and a covenant as to what each one agrees 
to do, there still must be, and always is, a definite un- 
derstanding among the members of such a church as to 
the teachings of the Bible on certain doctrinal points, 
and the ordinances and polity of the church. Without 
this it could not be a Baptist church, or indeed a church 
of any kind — it could as well be a debating club or a 
society of agnostics. 

If it should even be announced by such an organiza- 
tion that they believe the Scriptures, and that the Bible 
alone is their Confession of Faith, this still would be 
meaningless, and would signify nothing as between 
Christians, for they all say the same. There must be 
some distinctive declaration, either written or unwritten, 
as to what the Bible is understood to teach." And in 
order to form an organization at all and localize the body, 
there must be a covenant or agreement, either written 
or verbal, as to what is to be done to exemplify that teach- 
er 



26 History of Texas Baptists. 

ing. So Baptist churches are organized by adopting a 
declaration as to what they understand to be the teach- 
ings of the Bible on certain fundamental principles, and 
entering into a solemn covenant to mutually observe 
these teachings and exemplify these doctrines. 

CANNOT BE CHANGED. 

After having organized on this distinctive declara- 
tion of faith, and entered into this solemn covenant, a 
church cannot make any fundamental change without 
unanimous consent. A very close and sacred union has 
been entered into with God and with each other by this 
solemn covenant, not by the church as a body, but by 
each individual member. This cannot be treated lightly. 
Every one who afterwards joins the church assumes the 
same relations, and is entitled to the same consideration. 
It follows, therefore, that a majority of the church have 
no more right to change the original declaration and 
covenant against the wishes and consent of a minority — 
forcing upon them a different compact — than the ma- 
jority of signers to a promissory note or other civil obli- 
gation have to alter the 'terms of such an instrument 
without the consent of every individual signer. Other- 
wise a majority of a church might subvert the very vital 
fundamental faith on which such a church was consti- 
tuted, and convert the Christian house of worship into 
a Mohammedan mosque, a Jewish synagogue, or some 
other unchristian temple, thereby forcing the minority 
to either abandon their religious faith, or give up their 
church. 

When it is said that in Baptist churches the majority 



The Doctrines of Baptists. 27 

always bear rule, it must be understood as limited to 
those matters in which a majority has a right to rule. 
A majority has no right to make the church anything 
but a Baptist church. In establishing churches Baptists 
have never carried this principle of majority rule so far 
as to consent to the proposition of the majority's having 
a right to make the church anything else than a Baptist 
church, or a right to substitute for any fundamental doc- 
trine a different and antagonistic faith. The highest 
judicial authorities in our country have taken high 
ground on this point, holding that a' majority, however 
great, not only cannot change the faith of the original 
church organization, but if they attempt to do so they 
forfeit all claim to be the church, and all right to the 
use of the church property. 

In the case of Smith vs. Pedigo, the Supreme Court 
of Indiana uses the following language : "The rule as 
stated by the Supreme Court of Illinois, in Ferraria vs. 
Vasconcellos, 31 111. 54-55, and recognized by a great 
many decisions in courts of last resort in other States, is 
as follows : 'As a matter of law, as I understand the de- 
cisions, the rule is that where a church is erected for the 
use of a particular denomination or religious persuasion, 
a majority of the members of the church cannot abandon 
the tenets and doctrines of the denomination, and retain 
the right to the use of the church property ; but such se- 
cessionists forfeit all right to the property, even if but a 
single member adhers to the original faith and doctrines 
of the church. This rule is founded on reason and jus- 
tice/ " 

The Supreme Court of Iowa, in the case of Mt. Zion 
Baptist church vs. Whitmore, lays down the following 



28 History of Texas Baptists. 

rule: "Upon authority so general as to be beyond ques- 
tion, it is held that property given or set apart to a church 
or religious association for its use in the enjoyment and 
promulgation of its adopted faith and teachings, is by 
said church or association held in trust for that purpose, 
and any member of the church or association, less than 
the whole, may not divert it therefrom." 

The Supreme Court of Indiana also, in the case cited 
above, expresses the following views: "If the trust is 
confined to a religious congregation of the independent 
or congregational form of church government, it is not 
in the power of the majority of that congregation, how- 
ever preponderant, by reason of a change of views on re- 
ligious subjects, to carry the property so confided to them 
to the support of a new and conflicting doctrine." 

A church cannot, in its independent and sovereign 
capacity, by a majority vote, override the personal rights 
of its individual members, nor disregard the teachings of 
Christ as expressed and clearly implied in the Scrip- 
tures. A church cannot make laws; it can only execute 
those given by Christ, who is the only law-giver to Bap- 
tists. It must always be remembered, however, that Bap- 
tists never place such an estimate on these declarations 
of faith as to make them in any sense a substitute for the 
Scriptures. Each church in its sovereign capacity adopts 
a declaration and covenant of its own, wholly independ- 
ent of all other bodies. But, while this is so, the faith 
of Baptists is as uniform, definite, and clearly understood 
as that of any other Christian denomination which have 
a written code of church laws and creed, which all their 
churches must adopt, and to which they must conform. 

There are among Baptists several declarations of 



The Doctrines of Baptists. 29 

faith, adopted by influential bodies, that serve in some 
degree as precedents for the churches, but are entirely 
without authority of law. Without referring to the sev- 
eral declarations of faith that have been published from 
time to time, the following, which is known as "The 
New Hampshire Confession of Faith," expresses substan- 
tially what Baptists believe the Scriptures to teach on 
the prominent tenets of our faith, and are most generally 
adopted : 

"articles of christian belief/' 

1. Of the Scriptures. — We believe the Holy Bible 
was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect 
treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for 
its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any 
mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the 
principles by which God will judge us; and therefore 
is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true 
center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by 
which all human conduct, creeds and opinions shall be 
tried. 

2. Of the True God. — That there is one, and only 
one true and living God, whose name is JEHOVAH, 
the Maker and Supreme Euler of heaven and earth ; in- 
expressibly glorious in holiness; worthy of all possible 
honor, confidence and love; revealed under the per- 
sonal and relative distinctions of the Father, the Son 
and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, 
and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the 
great work of redemption. 

3. Of the Fall of Man. — That man was created in 



30 History of Texas Baptists 

a state of holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by 
voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy 
state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sin- 
ners, not by constraint, but by choice, being by nature 
utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God ; 
wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satan, 
and of their own sinful passions; and therefore under 
just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defence or 
excuse. 

4. The Way of Salvation. — That the salvation of 
sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial of- 
fices of the Son of God, who took upon Him our nature, 
yet without sin; honored the law by His personal 
obedience, and made atonement for our sins by death ; 
being risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in 
heaven; and, uniting in His wonderful person the ten- 
derest sympathies with divine perfections, is every way 
qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all- 
sufficient Savior. 

5. Of Justification. — That the great Gospel bless- 
ing which Christ of His fulness bestows on such as be- 
lieve in Him is justification; that justification consists 
in the pardon of sins and the promise of eternal life, on 
principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in 
consideration of any works of righteousness which we 
have done, but solely through His own redemption and 
righteousness; that it brings us into a state of most 
blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every 
other blessing needful for time and eternity. 

6. Of the Freeness of Salvation. — That the bless- 
ings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel ; that 
it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cor- 



The Doctrines of Baptists 31 

dial and obedient faith, and that nothing prevents the 
salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, except his own 
voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, 
which refusal will subject him to an aggravated con- 
demnation. 

7. Of Grace in Regeneration. — That in order to be 
saved we must be regenerated, or born again; that re- 
generation consists in giving a holy disposition to the 
mind, and is effected in a manner above our comprehen- 
sion or calculation by the power of the Holy Spirit, so 
as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel, and 
that its proper evidence is found in the holy fruit which 
we bring forth to the glory of God. 

8. Of God's Purpose of Grace. — That election is 
the glorious purpose of God, according to which He 
regulates, sanctifies and saves sinners; that, being per- 
fectly consistent with the free agency of man, it com- 
prehends all the means in connection with the end ; that 
it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign good- 
ness, being infinitely wise, holy and unchangeable; that 
it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, 
prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His 
free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the 
highest degree ; that it is ascertained by its effects in all 
who believe the Gospel; is the foundation of Christian 
assurance; and that, to ascertain it with regard to our- 
selves, demands and deserves our utmost diligence. 

9. Of the Perseverance of the Saints.— -That such 
only are real believers as endure unto the end; that 
their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark 
which distinguishes them from mere professors; that a 
special Providence watches ove? their welfare, and they 



32 History of Texas Baptists 

are kept by the power of God through faith unto salva- 
tion. 

10. Harmony of the Law and Gospel. — That the 
law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His 
moral government ; that it is holy, just and good; and 
that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen 
men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love 
of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them 
through a mediator to 'unfeigned obedience to the holy 
law, is one great end of the Gospel, and of the means 
of grace connected with the establishment of the visible 
church. 

11. Of the Gospel Church. — That a visible church 
of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, asso- 
ciated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the 
Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by 
His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges 
invested in them by His word; that its only proper 
officers are bishops, or pastors, and deacons, whose quali- 
fications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles 
to Timothy and Titus. 

12. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. — That 
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water 
in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit, to show forth 
in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in a cruci- 
fied, buried and risen Savior, with its purifying power; 
that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church re- 
lation, and to the Lord's Supper, in which the members 
of the church, by the use of bread and wine, are to com- 
memorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded 
always by a solemn self-examination. 

13. Of the Christian Sabbath. — That the first day 



The Doctrines of Baptists. 33 

of the week is the Lord's day, or Christian Sabbath, and 
is to be kept sacred to religious purposes by abstaining 
from all secular labor and recreation, by the devout 
observance of all the means of grace, both private and 
public, and by preparation for that rest which remaineth 
for the people of God. 

14. Of Civil Government. — That civil government 
is of divine appointment for the interest and good order 
of human society, and that magistrates are to be prayed 
for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things 
opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the 
only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings 
of the earth. 

15. Of the Righteous and the Wicked. — That there 
is a radical and essential difference between the righteous 
and the wicked; that such only as through faith are 
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by 
the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem, 
while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief 
are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this 
distinction holds among men, both in and after death. 

16. Of the World to Come.— That the end of this 
world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will 
descend from heaven and raise the dead from the graves 
for final retribution ; that a solemn separation will then 
take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless 
punishment, and the righteous to endless joy, and that 
this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in 
heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness. 

CHURCH COVENANT. 

As we trust we have been brought by divine grace to 



34 History of Texas Baptists. 

embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the influence of 
His Spirit to give ourselves up to Him, so we do now 
solemnly covenant with each other that, God enabling 
us, we will walk together in brotherly love ; that we will 
exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each 
other, and faithfully warn, rebuke and admonish one 
another, as the case shall require; that we will not for- 
sake the assembling of ourselves together, nor omit the 
great duty of prayer, both for ourselves and for others; 
that we will participate in each other's joys, and en- 
deavor, with tenderness and sympathy, to bear each 
other's burdens and sorrows; that we will earnestly en* 
deavor to bring up such as may be in our care in the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord; that we will seek 
divine aid to enable us to walk circumspectly and watch- 
fully in the world, denying ungodliness and every world- 
ly lust; that we will strive together for the support of 
a faithful evangelical ministry among us; that we will 
endeavor, by example and effort, to win souls to Christ, 
and through life, amidst evil report and good report, seek 
to live to the glory of Him who hath called us out of 
darkness into His marvelous light. 



CHAPTER IV. 

ORDINANCES OF A CHURCH. 

A religious ordinance has been aptly defined to be 
"A rule of action, or a special appointment established 
by the divine command/' Baptism and the Lord's Sup- 
per are the only ordinances recognized by Baptists, as 
having been established' by Christ for perpetual observ- 
ance in His church. He is the only law-giver to Chris- 
tians, and therefore the only authority which could es- 
tablish an ordinance for His church. These ordinances 
are positive institutions, and demand honor and obedi- 
ence from us, because Christ has appointed them for 
our observance, and- committed them to His churches 
for preservation in their original integrity. We cannot 
maintain our loyalty to Christ, the great law-giver and 
our exemplar, and treat them lightly or neglect them. 
Baptists hold that they must be observed in the exact 
form in which they were committed to us by Christ, else 
it is no observance at all. They have, therefore, always 
protested against any change of form or manner of ad- 
ministration for the convenience or at the caprice of 
men. 

Baptism. — -As set forth in article 12 of the Confes- 
sion of Faith, already quoted in a previous chapter, 
"Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in 
water in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit, to show 
forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in a 

(35) 



36 History of Texas Baptists. 

crucified, buried and risen Savior." The immersion is 
absolutely essential, and any other use or application of 
water is not, and cannot be, Christian baptism. The 
subject must be a believer in Christ. To call that bap- 
tism which sprinkles a little water on unconscious in- 
fants which cannot believe is inexcusable. 

The very nature of baptism, and the examples in the 
New Testament of its practice, all point unmistakably 
to the conclusion that it is only applicable to believers 
who are capable of responsible • action. The commands 
in reference to baptism are always given to those who 
are to be baptized, except in the single instance of 
Christ's last words to His disciples, where His ministers 
are commanded to baptize. In that instance it must be 
observed that they are commanded first to teach or 
disciple the people. This command cannot apply to those 
incapable of being taught, as infants are. Ministers are 
not commanded to baptize infants; parents are not 
commanded to carry their children to be baptized; nor 
is any instance of the baptism of any but professed be- 
lievers recorded in the Scriptures. Without immersion 
there can be no baptism. It is fallacious to talk of modes 
of baptism. It cannot be administered in different ways. 
Immersion alone is the baptismal act. 

For what purpose are believers baptized, and what 
is the efficacy? As in the Lord's Supper we show forth 
the Lord's death, so in baptism we show forth His burial 
and resurrection. While the followers of Alexander 
Campbell place too much stress on baptism, pedo-Bap- 
tists often go to the opposite extreme and treat it too 
lightly. The first make it the capstone of salvation and 
give it regenerating power, while the latter hold that 



Ordinances of a Church. 37 

the application of water in almost any way will answer 
for baptism. Both of these views Baptists reject as 
utterly unsupported by the Word of God. 

Baptists hold that its significance is to believers 
alone, and, in Scriptural phrase, "We are buried with 
Him by baptism into His death;" also, "Buried with 
Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him;" 
and again, "So many of us as were baptized into Christ 
were baptized into His death." Thus we see that bap- 
tism is not only an emblem, but it is also a testimony. 
It is not only symbolical of the death and resurrection 
of Christ, but it is a confession of our faith in a cruci- 
fied, buried and risen Savior. It signifies that we are 
dead to the world, and alive in Christ. It has no agency 
in our regeneration, but is a public confession that we 
have been converted. In Scriptural language, "It is an 
answer of a good conscience." It testifies openly that we 
have come out from the world and have committed our- 
selves to Christ in devotion and service. 

The Lord's Supper. — In the Confession of Faith, 
already set forth, it is declared that "Baptism is pre- 
requisite to the Lord's Supper, in which the members 
of the church, by the use of bread and wine, are to com- 
memorate together the dying love of Christ." The 
Lord's Supper is exclusively a church ordinance, and 
must never be celebrated outside an organized church. 
As baptism stands at the very door of the church, and 
no one can enter without it, so the Supper can never 
come before this sacred rite. 

The learned Richard Fuller, in his exhaustive argu- 
ment on this subject, lays down and clearly proves the 
proposition, that while baptism is a personal, individual 



38 History of Texas Baptists. 

act, by which we confess Christ, the Lord's Supper is a 
social ordinance, belonging to the visible churches, and 
to be observed by them as churches. Jesus went alone 
"from Galilee unto Jordan 7 ' and was baptized. The 
eunuch's baptism was an individual act, and there can 
be no doubt that the same is true of all other baptisms 
referred to in the New Testament. But it is very differ- 
ent when the Supper is to be established. Now, there is 
preparation for a company in a "large upper room." 
In this room Jesus and His disciples, composing a 
church, met, and the supper was established. The very 
terms used in the New Testament show most clearly 
that this ordinance is not, and cannot be, considered an 
individual act, but is applicable alone to a congregation 
assembled — in other words, a church. It is called a 
supper, which is a social repast. It is called a com- 
munion, for the reason, as we read: "The bread which 
we break ; is it not the communion of the body of 
Christ?" Paul, in 1st Cor., eleventh chapter, in correct- 
ing the shameful and disorderly practice which the Corin- 
thians had fallen into in partaking of this sacrament out- 
side the assembled church in an individual capacity, 
says : "What ! Have ye not houses to eat and drink in, 
or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that 
have not? Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come to- 
gether to eat, tarry one for another." That is, until the 
congregation meets in a church capacity. 

Baptism is prerequisite to the Lord's table, because 
it is a prerequisite to church membership. This pri- 
ority of baptism to the Lord's Supper will clearly appear 
from many considerations: 

1. That baptism was first instituted, nothing is 



Ordinances of a Church. 39 

plainer from the New Testament. John the Baptist 
baptized great numbers, and the disciples of Jesus, un- 
der His direction, baptized more than John before the 
institution of the Lord's Supper, as appears from John's 
Gospel, 4:1-2. 

2. The same appears with great force and clearness 
from Christ's last commission: "Go ye, therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." From 
this it is clearly evident that baptism is to follow dis- 
cipleship in such close relation as to leave no place for 
the Lord's Supper between. The order is, teaching, or 
discipleship ; believing, or conversion; then baptizing, 
and 'thus being added to the church, as on the day of 
Pentecost. All this before any reference is made to 
breaking of bread, which signifies the communion of 
the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the first act of the dis- 
ciple after believing, and by it he publicly confesses 
Christ, and is then a fit subject for the injunction in 
that part of the commission that follows: "Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded 
you." 

3. The apostles understood and carried into effect 
this great commission in ,exact accordance with this same 
distinctive order. On the day of Pentecost Peter said 
to those who were convicted, "Bepent and be baptized." 
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized." 
After which it is added, "They continued steadfastly in 
the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking 
of bread and in prayer." When the eunuch confessed to 
Philip his faith in Christ he was forthwith baptized. 
At Philippi, when Paul. and Silas preached to the jailer 



40 History of Texas Baptists. 

and his family, as soon as they accepted Christ they were 
baptized. When Philip went down to Samaria and 
preached, and they believed, "They were baptized, both 
men and women."' In all these cases, and indeed in all 
others, it is quite evident that baptism followed im- 
mediately after believing, and not a word is said about 
observing the Lord's Supper. In view of these examples 
nothing is more indisputable than that the whole tenor 
of the Xew Testament indicates the priority of baptism. 
4. Even pedo-Baptists distinctly concede this point. 
Dr. Wall, a pedo-Baptist authority, in his '"History of 
Infant Baptism," part 2, chapter 9, expresses his views 
as follows: "Xo church ever gave the commission to a 
person before they were baptized. Among all the ab- 
surdities that ever were held, none have maintained that 
persons should partake of the communion before they 
were baptized.'' Dr. Doddridge, also a pedo-Baptist, 
in his "Miscellaneous Works,"' page 510, says: "It is 
certain that Christians in general have always been 
spoken of by the most ancient fathers as baptized per- 
sons. And it is also certain that, as far as our knowl- 
edge of primitive authority extends, no unbaptized per- 
son received the Lord's Supper." Dr. Hibbard, a Meth- 
odist author, in his "'Christian Baptism," does not hesi- 
tate to say : "It is but just to remark that in one prin- 
ciple the Baptist and pedo-Baptist churches agree. They 
both agree in rejecting from communion at the table of 
the Lord and denying the rights of church fellowship to 
all who have not been baptized. Valid baptism they con- 
sider as essential to constitute visible church member- 
ship. This also we hold. The only question then that 
here divides us is, What is essential to valid baptism?"' 



Ordinances of a Church. 41 

Pedo-Baptists can, with their view of baptism, ad- 
mit Baptists to their communion with propriety, but on 
the other hand Baptists, with their views, cannot con- 
sistently reciprocate. Each determines the question of 
church membership on the same principle. Each admits 
that this is to be determined by what is considered valid 
baptism. But on this point there is a broad difference. 
Hence, when the charge of close communion is made 
against Baptists, it only means that they maintain that 
nothing but immersion is baptism. 

5. Christ and His apostles had been baptized when 
the Supper was instituted. Can any one doubt this? 
We know that Jesus was baptized by John, and that He 
said to John at the time of His own baptism, "Thus it 
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Is it supposable 
that He chose apostles that had not fulfilled this "all 
righteousness?" It is morally certain that they were 
not baptized afterwards, yet they were the very ministers 
sent by the great commission to teach the world this 
righteousness, and themselves to baptize believers. It 
is said, "Jesus made and baptized more disciples than 
John, though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His dis- 
ciples." That is, His disciples baptized. Can any one 
conceive for a moment that they could do this, and them- 
selves be unbaptized? 

Now, there would seem to be no escape from the 
conclusion that it follows from what has been set forth 
in this chapter : 

1. That visible ordinances are exclusively for visible 
churches in their organized capacity. 

2. That baptism is essential to membership in this 
visible organized church of Christ. 



42 History of Texas Baptists. 

3. That therefore no one can partake of the ordi- 
nance of the Lord's Supper until he is baptized and be- 
comes a church member. 

4. That it follows, consequently, as Baptists do not 
recognize the sprinkling and pouring of pedo-Baptists, 
and cannot admit anything but believers in baptism, they 
cannot recognize them as entitled to the communion of 
the Lord's Supper. 

Many become confused on this subject, by mistaking 
the real object and purpose of the communion, and what 
is expressed by it. They conceive the idea that by it we 
are to express our Christian fellowship and love for each 
other. But what a mistake ! On that solemn and 
gloomy night, when the Supper was instituted, Jesus 
said: "Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for 
you ; this do in remembrance of me." In this ordinance 
Ave do not remember one another, but we remember 
Christ. He also said: "As often as } T e eat this bread 
and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He 
come." We do not show our love for our brother, but 
we >how the Lord's death. In 1 Cor. 11:28 Paul says: 
"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that 
bread and drink of that cup." We are not to examine 
our brother to see whether we can fellowship him or not, 
but examine ourselves and remember the dying love of 
Christ. When we, as Baptists, refuse to commune with 
pedo-Baptists, therefore, it is not because we do not love 
them and have Christian fellowship for them, but be- 
cause we do not recognize their sprinkling and pouring 
as valid baptism, however much we may love them. And 
this we conceive fully answers the contention often made, 
to the effect that if it is the Lord's table, we have no 



Ordinances of a Church. 43 

right to refuse it to any of the Lord's people. "Were 
it our table,'' says one. "we would give vent to our feel- 
ings and joyfully invite our brethren. But it is the 
Lord's table, and the Lord Himself has prescribed the 
regulation as to His own table. He orders that the bap- 
tized only shall commune. Who shall dare to abro- 
gate this order?" The most inconsistent and untenable 
attitude of all Christians on this subject is that of open- 
communion Baptists. 



CHAPTEE V. 

THE GOVERNMENT OF A CHURCH. 

Christian denominations have generally adopted one 
of three distinctive forms of church government, which 
may be designated as Episcopacy, Presbyterianism and 
Congregationalism. In Episcopacy the governing power 
is in the hands of individual rulers, as priests, bishops, 
or pope, as we find it in Roman, Greek and English com- 
munions, and other more recent organizations, all of 
which have a gradation of church officials, in which the 
body of the church has no voice. In Presbyterianism 
the governing power is placed in church courts, or as- 
semblies, synods, etc., as in the different organizations 
of Presbyterians, in which an appeal always lies from the 
lower up to the highest tribunals. 

Baptists antagonize both of these as unscriptural, 
and have always contended for and maintained the Con- 
gregational, or Independent, form of church govern- 
ment, which is a pure democracy, in which every church 
is an independent, sovereign body, from whose decisions 
there is no appeal, and every member of that church is 
equal. The organized local church, which is self-gov- 
erning and independent of all other churches and all 
other bodies, is the highest ecclesiastical authority recog- 
nized by Baptists. The government is administered by 
the body acting together, where no one possesses pre- 
eminence. All enjoy equality of rights, and in matters 

(44) 



The Government of a Church. 45 

of opinion as to government the majority bear rule. It 
is maintained: 

1. That the governmental power is in the hands of 
the people. 

2. The right of a majority of the members of a 
church to rule in accordance with the laws of Christ. 

3. That church action is final, and its power cannot 
be transferred or alienated. 

Every church is accountable to Christ alone in spirit- 
ual things directly, and not through any earthly body. 
Baptist churches do not claim any right to make laws, 
but acknowledge Christ as the only law-giver, and the 
Bible the only statute book, and which has never been, 
and can never be, amended or repealed. A church cannot 
delegate its power and authorit}\ and cannot empower 
any man or body of men to do any act that will impair 
or compromise her sovereignty. It has been summed up 
thus : "The acts of a church are valid and binding when 
they accord with the law of Christ; when they do not 
they are null and void." "We conclude, therefore, that 
church independence, with all its sovereignty, is not un- 
limited. While maintaining fully the independence of 
the churches and the right of a majority to control, yet 
Baptists as fully admit that there are some things a 
Baptist church cannot do, however great the majority 
may be. Baptists cannot allow the liberty independence 
gives them to run to unbridled license. As civil liberty, 
unbridled, leads to anarchy and red republicanism, so 
Christian liberty, not measured by the law of Christ, leads 
to the excesses of the "Mad Men of Munster," and to the 
wildest theories and practices, and the deadliest and most 



■AG History of Texas Baptists. 

grotesque heresies. Not the least among these is exhibited 
by the modern school of higher criticism. 

There are several instances in which church inde- 
pendence is limited: 

1. It is limited by the law of Christ. 

2. It is limited by the personal rights of its indi- 
vidual members. 

This includes the proposition already advanced in 
these pages that a church cannot change its Declaration 
of Faith and its Covenant against the wishes of a single 
member. It may also be said that a churcli cannot teach 
doctrines in derogation of these. Of course, it is not for 
a moment claimed that there can be any check put on 
the physical power of an independent church, but it is 
maintained that such actions are absolutely void, and 
no one is under any obligation to respect them. Any 
such church so acting forfeits all right to be recognized 
as a Baptist church, for it thereby ceases to be a Baptist 
church. 

It has been objected against this form of church 
government that it is not strong enough to put in force 
sufficient authority to insure obedience to its regulations. 
To which Baptists reply, by way of demurrer, that it is 
the government put in operation by Christ and His apos- 
tles, and that the same objection applies to all demo- 
cratic governments. 

The influence which Baptists and Baptist principles 
had in the American form of government, and the estab- 
lishment of civil and religions liberty. — When the great 
principles of the inalienable rights of men began to be 
realized by our colonial fathers they were not new prin- 
ciples to Baptists The tenets of soul-liberty were woven 



The Government of a Church. 47 

in the very texture of Baptist faith and polity, and had 
been sealed by the blood of thousands of Baptist martyrs. 
When the contest for liberty came, none saw so clearly 
as Baptists the stand that must be taken ; none felt such 
an absorbing interest in the triumph of liberty. They 
had always protested against the union of church and 
state, but now saw that civil and religious liberty were 
so interwoven that their duty was to throw their whole 
influence to the cause of political freedom. From the 
day those two staunch Baptists, Eoger Williams and John 
Clark, in 1663, secured the celebrated charter of Ehode 
Island, promulgating for the first time the great prin- 
ciples of soul liberty, and establishing the first govern- 
ment on earth wherein was absolute religious liberty, the 
Baptists in America never ceased to demand this precious 
boon for the whole country, and they continued to ex- 
emplify it in their church government. Without doubt 
this had a great influence in shaping the forms of gov- 
ernment for our country. In Virginia this was perhaps 
more apparent than anywhere else. 

Up to 1775 the established church dictated all forms 
of worship, and Baptists, as well as all other dissentens, 
were forbidden to preach under pain of fine and im- 
prisonment, and were compelled to pay a tax to support 
the establishment. Many a Baptist preacher, incarcer- 
ated for preaching the Gospel, delivered some of their 
most powerful sermons through prison bars. In August 
of this year the General Baptist Association of Virginia 
determined that petitions should be sent up to the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, pray- 
ing "that they be allowed to worship God in their own 
way without interference; that they be permitted to 



48 History of Texas Baptists. 

maintain their own ministers, and none others; that 
they may be married, bnried and the like without pay- 
ing the clergy of other denominations." In response to 
these petitions Thomas Jefferson, who was a great ad- 
mirer of Baptist polity, presented to the General Assem- 
bly of Virginia, of which he was a member, a bill em- 
bodying these principles. It was adopted at the October 
session, 17TG, as follows: 

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Com- 
monwealth of Virginia, and it is hereby enacted by the 
authority of the same, That all and every act of Par- 
liament, by whatever title known or distinguished, winch 
renders criminal the maintaining any opinions in mat- 
ters of religion forbearing to repair to church or the ex- 
ercising any mode of worship whatsoever, or which pre- 
scribes punishments for the same, shall from henceforth 
be of no force or validity within this Commonwealth. 

"And whereas, there are within this Common- 
wealth great numbers of dissenters from the church es- 
tablished by law, who have been heretofore taxed for its 
support, and it is contrary to the principles of reason 
and justice that any should be compelled to contribute 
to the maintenance of a church with which their con- 
sciences will not permit them to join, and from which 
they can therefore receive no benefit: For remedy 
whereof, and that equal liberty, as well religious as civil, 
may be universally extended to all the good people of 
this Commonwealth, 

"Be it (further) enacted, etc., That all dissenters 
of whatever denomination from the said church shall, 
from and after the passage of this act, be totally free and 
exempt from all levies, taxes and impositions whatever 



The Government of a Church. 49 

towards supporting and maintaining the said church, as 
it now is or hereafter may be established, and its min- 
isters." 

This was the first law passed giving any relief on 
this line, and the same principles were incorporated in 
the fundamental laws of the general government. The 
same question, in a modified form, was yet to be met. 
A bill was presented for a general assessment, compell- 
ing every person to contribute to some religious teacher. 
Pending this bill, the privilege to have the rites of matri- 
mony celebrated by dissenting ministers on equal terms 
with the English church was also persistently demanded. 
As both of these questions involved the very principles 
of equal rights they were contending for, the Baptist 
General Association, in October, 1780. adopted a me- 
morial to the House of Delegates, declaring, among 
other things, as follows: 

"That a due regard for the liberty and rights of the 
people is of the highest importance to the welfare of the 
State. That this heaven-born freedom, which belongs 
equally to every good citizen, is the Palladium which the 
Legislature is particularly intrusted with the guardian- 
ship of, and on which the safety and happiness of the 
State depends. As religious oppression, or the inter- 
ferring with the rights of conscience, which God has 
made accountable to none but Himself, is, of all op- 
pressions, the most inhuman and insupportable, and as 
partiality to any religious denomination is its genuine 
offspring, your memorialists have with grief observed 
that religious liberty has not made a single advance 
without opposition. * * * 

"As the completion of religious liberty is what, as a 



50 History of Texas Baptists. 

religious community, your memorialists are particularly 
interested in, they would humbly call the attention of 
your honorable house to a few particulars, viz: 

"First — The vestry law, which disqualifies any per- 
son to officiate who will not subscribe to be eomformable 
to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of Eng- 
land, by which means dissenters are not only precluded, 
but also not represented, they not having a free voice, 
whose property is nevertheless subject to be taxed by 
the vestry. * * * 

"Second — The solemnization of marriage; that to 
render it legal it must be performed by a church clergy- 
man according to the rights and ceremonies of the 
Church of England. * * * Your memoralists con- 
ceive that the ill consequences resulting from thence 
render it absolutely necessary for the Legislature to en- 
deavor their removal. * * * Your memoralists 
humbly hope that your honorable house will take effect- 
ual measures to redress their grievances in such a way as 
may manifest an equal regard to all the good people of 
this Commonweal tli, however diversified by appellations 
or religious sentiment. * * * And in particular 
that you will consign to oblivion all the relicks of re- 
ligious oppression, and make a public sacrifice of par- 
tiality at the glorious altar of freedom.*' 

At that very session, October, 1780, an act was passed 
providing that "It shall and may be lawful for any min- 
ister of any society or congregation of Christians * * * 
to celebrate the rites of matrimony * * * and such 
marriages, as well as those heretofore celebrated by dis- 
senting ministers, shall be, and they are hereby declared, 
good and valid in law." 



The Government of a Church. 51 

Another document, entitled "Memorial and Remon- 
strance," prepared by James Madison, afterwards Presi- 
dent of the United States, was presented to the General 
Assembly against the "general assessment,'" which was 
still being pressed. It has been said that for elegance of 
style, strength of reasoning and pnrity of principle, it 
has never been surpassed by -anything in the English 
language, but on account of its length it cannot be given 
here. It may be remarked, however, that it covers the 
whole ground taken by Baptists. In 1784, the public 
sentiment having been expressed so decidedly against 
this "general assessment," the measure was defeated and 
given up forever. 

In 1785 the following act, offered by Thomas Jeffer- 
son, was also passed: 

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That no 
man shall be compelled to frequent or support any re- 
ligious worship place or ministry whatsoever, nor shall 
be enforced, restrained, molested or burdened in his 
body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of 
his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall 
be free to profess and by argument to maintain their 
opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall 
in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capaci- 
ties." 

In this connection, a "History of Virginia Bap- 
tists," "published in 1810, says: "The Baptists were 
among the strongest supporters of liberty." Also, "The 
firm and united stand made by the Baptists against the 
general assessment bill occurred at a most critical junc- 
ture in the struggle for religious freedom, and when the 
other religious bodies, which had been their allies in the 



52 History of Texas Baptists. 

contest, were now wavering or opposing them. Their ac- 
tion at this period, reinforced by the powerful support of 
James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and George Mason, 
forms one of the brightest chapters in the history of 
Virginia." 

In 1798 the Legislature repealed all laws vesting 
property in any religious sect, by which the Episco- 
palians were deprived of the glebes, etc., and all religious 
organizations were put on a perfect equality in respect 
to the favors of the government. On the election of 
General Washington to the Presidency, among the first 
congratulations received by him was one from the United 
Baptist Churches of Virginia, expressing their confi- 
dence and their prayers. To this Washington replied as 
follows : 

"To the General Committee Representing the United 
Baptist Churches of Virginia — Gentlemen: I request 
that you will 'accept my best acknowledgments for your 
congratulations on my appointment to the first office in 
the nation. The kind manner in which you mention my 
past conduct equally claims the expressions of my grati- 
tude. After we had, by the smiles of Divine Providence 
on our exertions, obtained the object for which we con- 
tended, I retired at the conclusion of the war, with the 
idea that my country could have no farther occasion for 
my services, and with the intention of never entering 
again into public life; but when the exigencies of my 
country seemed to require me once more to engage in pub- 
lic affairs, an honest conviction of duty suspended my 
former resolution, and became my apology for deviating 
from the happy plan which I had adopted. 

"If I could have entertained the slightest apprehen- 
sion that the constitution framed in the convention where 
I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the 



The Government of a Church. 53 

religious rights of an}* ecclesiastical society, certainly I 
would never have placed my signature to it; and if I 
could now conceive that the General Government might 
ever be so administered as to render the liberty of con- 
•science insecure, I beg you will be persuaded that no one 
would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual 
barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and 
every species of religious persecution. For you doubtless 
remember I have often expressed my sentiments, that 
every man conducting himself as a good citizen, and be- 
ing accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, 
ought to be protected in worshiping the Deity according 
to the dictates of his own conscience. 

"While I recollect with satisfaction that the religious 
society of which you are members have been throughout 
America uniformly and almost unanimously the firm 
friends of civil liberty, and the persevering promoters of 
our glorious revolution, I cannot hesitate to believe that 
they will be faithful supporters of a free, yet efficient, 
General Government. Under this pleasing expectation 
I rejoice to assure them that they may rely upon my best 
wishes and endeavors to advance their prosperity. 

"In the meantime, be assured, gentlemen, that I en- 
tertain a proper sense of your fervent supplication to 
God for my temporal and eternal hapiness. - 1 am, gen- 
tlemen, your most obedient servant, 

"George Washixgtox/' 

The Supreme Court of the United States, in Eey- 
nolds vs. U. S., 98 U. S. 149, in tracing the history of 
religious freedom as found in our Constitution, says: 

"Mr. Jefferson, replying to an address to him by the 
Danbury Baptist Association of Virginia, took occasion 
to say: 'Believing, with you, that religion is a matter 
which lies solely between man and his God ; that he owes 
account to none other for his faith or his worship ; that 
the legislative powers of the government reach actions 



54 History of Texas Baptists. 

only, and not opinions ; I contemplate with solemn rev- 
erence that act of the whole American people which de- 
clared that their Legislature shall make no law respect- 
ing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free 
exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation be- 
tween church and State. Adhering to this expression of 
the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of 
conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the prog- 
ress of these sentiments which tend to restore man to all 
his natural rights, convinced that he has no natural rights 
in opposition to his social duties/ 

In approving these sentiments of Mr. Jefferson, this 
high court thus ascribes to Baptists the propagation of 
this fundamental doctrine. At the annual session of 
the general meeting of correspondence of the Baptist 
Associations of Virginia, an address was voted to Mr. 
Jefferson, President of the United States, who was re- 
tiring from public life. In response to this, Mr. Jeffer- 
son wrote the following letter: 

"Monticello, April 13, 1808.— I thank you, my 
friends and neighbors, for your kind congratulations on 
my return to my native home, and of the opportunities 
it will give me of enjoying amidst your affections the com- 
forts of retirement and rest. Your approbation of my 
conduct is the more valued, as you have best known me, 
and is an ample reward for any services I may have ren- 
dered. TVe have acted together from the origin to the 
end of a memorable revolution, and we have contributed 
each in the line allotted to us — our endeavors to render 
its issues a permanent blessing to our country. That' our 
social intercourse may, to the evening of our days, be 
cheered and cemented by witnessing Hie freedom and 
happiness for which we have labored, will be my constant 
prayer. 

"Accept the offering of my affectionate esteem and 
respect. Thos. Jeffersox." 



CHAPTER VI. 

WHAT IS THE RELATION" OF CHURCHES TO ASSOCIATION'S ? 

In earning on missionary and other Christian work, 
Baptists have various combinations forming organized 
bodies, including associations for the development of 
missionary operations, education, etc. It is always con- 
ceded that no organization is provided for in the Xew 
Testament other than churches. While we claim for the 
church a divine origin, all these other institutions and 
societies are man-made. At the same time, it is allowed 
that these combinations are not forbidden, and are of 
great convenience and aid in accomplishing the work 
committed to us by the great commission, and are in 
no wise contravened by the spirit of the teachings of 
Christ and His apostles. "While Christ made no mis- 
take in committing to His church alone this great charge, 
His followers make no mistake in laying hold of all 
legitimate aids and conveniences available in carrying 
on Christian work, provided the same are not in deroga- 
tion of the teachings of the Bible. 

Then recurs the question before us, "What relation 
do the churches bear to these bodies?" This question 
has not, until recently, received general and mature con- 
sideration, but has been treated in the constitutions and 
proceedings of these bodies in a very vague and indefinite 
manner, not seeming to realize the importance of a set- 
tled and unequivocal position on this important ques- 

(?5) 



56 History of Texas Baptists. 

tion. After a thorough examination of the subject we 
are able to advance the following propositions as em- 
bracing the only position tenable under the faith and 
polity of Baptists: 

1. These bodies are not representative bodies, haying 
no delegated authority to bind the independent churches 
in any way whatever. The sovereignty of the churches 
must be maintained inviolate at all hazards. They can- 
not compromise their sovereignty by acknowledging to 
anybody or any power legislative authority. 

2. As a second proposition, we quote as follows 
from Iliscox's able work, which is of the very highest 
authority among Baptists: "An association, the organ- 
ized body that meets for business, is not composed of 
churches, but of individuals — the messengers." "A Bap- 
tist church cannot be a member of any other body what- 
ever. It would violate its sacred charter and lose its 
identity as the body of Christ to attempt such a union. 
And if many churches should enter into organized re- 
lations, and constitute an ecclesiastical confederation, 
the local churches would be absorbed, losing largely 
their individuality and independence. Also in that case 
the confederate body would possess legislative and ju- 
dicial control over the separate congregations. This is 
the actual status of most Christian denominations. But 
our polity and our traditions repudiate both the inference 
and the hypothesis on which it rests." 

No church can empower any man or body of men to 
do an act which will compromise its sovereignty. In 
the proceedings of associations it is true we often see 
reference made to a church being received or dismissed, 
but this results from a loose manner of expression, be- 



What Is the Relation of Churches to Associations? 57 

cause churches are not received to membership, but to 
fellowship; and are not dismissed from membership, 
but only recommended to the fellowship of some other 
body; or, in case of disorder in a church, fellowship is 
withdrawn. If churches, by the presence of their rep- 
resentatives compose these outside bodies, then it would 
follow necessarily that such churches are bound by the 
acts of these bodies, and, being subordinate to them, 
church sovereignty is destroyed. If an association is a 
representative body it is absurd to say it cannot bind its 
constituents. And if the churches are the constituents 
of the association, and are represented in that body by 
delegates or messengers, then there is no escaping the 
conclusion that such a body has a right to direct the 
action of the churches and make laws for them. And 
thus the independent, congregational form of church 
government, that has always been maintained and up- 
held by Baptists, with such holy devotion, is swept away, 
and the Presbyterian form of church government set up. 

It is freely admitted that the language used by Baptist 
historians, by constitutions of associations, and in their 
proceedings, cannot be said to sustain these conclusions, 
but would rather indicate the contrary view. But what 
we contend for is that from the very nature of the prin- 
ciples upon which Christ founded His Church, as under- 
stood by all our brethren, and form the very fundamental 
principles of church government and polity, as under- 
stood by Baptists, and because we are Baptists, we cannot 
support the contrary principle. 

The loose language used on this subject is doubtless 
due more to a want of mature consideration than to the 
enunciation of the principles such language would seem 



58 History of Texas Baptists. 

to imply, and without a thought of its effect on Baptist 
polity. Associations have sometimes, however, attempted 
to carry them out to their legitimate extent by trying to 
dictate the action of the churches. Only recently we 
were present at the meeting of an association in this 
State, when charges were preferred against a church 
which had heretofore affiliated with that body, but was 
not seeking any further connection with it. The church 
was called to account for employing as a pastor a man 
who was preaching doctrines contrary to the Articles of 
Faith adopted by the association, assuming that the 
church was a member of that body, and, therefore, bound 
to give to it an account of its actions. 

Another case occurred a few years ago in another 
association. A church was called to account for affili- 
ating with another association without the consent of 
that body with which it had previously affiliated, although 
the church was not now seeking affiliation. The church 
was held to be amenable to the Constitution of the Asso- 
ciation, and charged with a violation of it, thereby as- 
suming that the church, by once affiliating with that body, 
became a member of it, and became bound by a compact 
which the church could not dissolve without the consent 
of the association. 

It has been asked, with some degree of plausibility, 
how is it that the churches appoint the messengers and 
furnish them credentials if such messengers have no 
delegated power, and the churches are not members of 
the association? To which we must reply: That it is 
only as a matter of convenience, that associations usually 
adopt this means of obtaining messengers, which we 
submit is not essential to constitute an association. That 



What Is the Relation of Churches to Associations? 59 

body might provide in its constitution that messengers 
or members composing its body should be secured some 
other way. It could provide that only the deacons of 
the churches should be eligible, or, as some associations 
have done, that the pastors should compose the associa- 
tion, or that the pastors should name the messengers 
without any church action, and such a body would be a 
de facto Baptist association, perfectly competent to do 
all that is now done by associations. In such cases, could 
any one for a moment contend that the churches com- 
posed such a body? The appointment of messengers by 
the church confers no ecclesiastical power on them. A 
church only voluntarily selects this means of carrying on 
missionary and educational work at the request of the 
association, and only so long as the methods and plans 
may be deemed efficacious. At any time such a church 
may drop this means and adopt other methods for such 
work, but cannot at any time control the action of the 
association, because it is not a constituent of that 'body. 

According to Baptist usage it often occurs that an 
organization is called into existence which is known 
among us as a Council, and is convened to aid in the 
settlement of some disturbing question. This Council 
may be called by a church, or by an individual, request- 
ing several churches to send messengers to compose the 
Council, as associations request the churches to send 
messengers to compose that body. The churches, as re- 
quested, appoint and send up messengers and the Council 
is organized. Will any one for a moment contend that 
these churches are constituent members of that Council? 
Or that it exists by authority of these churches? Or 
that they have any right to control its action? It is a 



60 History of Texas Baptists. 

common thing for agricultural, mercantile and other like 
associations to request the Governor or some other func- 
tionary to appoint delegates or messengers to their body. 
But who ever claimed that thereby the State became a 
member of 'that body ? Some lay down the somewhat too 
broad proposition that an association is perfectly inde- 
pendent of the churches, and that "within its sphere of 
action is just as independent as a church in its own prov- 
ince."' This should be qualified with the suggestion that 
associations are, for the most part, dependent on the 
churches for funds to carry on their work, and without the 
co-operation of the churches could hardly be maintained. 
It only remains for us to consider one more propo- 
sition in connection with this subject, namely : What can 
an association rightfully do in case a church sends up 
messengers who, for any cause, the association cannot 
fellowship? We answer, without hesitation, that while 
a church, in its independence, has the right, under the 
constitution of most associations, to send up whomsoever 
she will as messengers, yet she has no right to force the 
association to accept them to fellowship, and thereby 
give them an indorsement. The association may decline 
to receive such messengers, on the ground that they are 
unworthy of fellowship, and at the same time disfellow- 
ship and drop the church as being in disorder by holding 
in its fellowship unworthy men, and trying to impose 
them upon that body. It may do one or both of these, as 
the circumstances justify. All this an association may 
do for its own protection, without trenching upon the 
sovereignty of the church. Such a body would be im- 
potent, indeed, and wholly worthless, had it no power of 
self-protection in judging of the qualification of its mem- 
bers. 



CHAPTEE VII. 

A GENERAL SKETCH OF BAPTISTS. 

Very many idle and often absurd statements have 
been made from time to time by almost every character 
of authors as to the origin of the great Baptist denomi- 
nation of Christians. Without specifying these absurd 
statements,' we call attention to the following quotations 
from authors of the highest standing on this point. 

Cathcart, in his Baptist Encyclopedia, says: "The 
Baptist denomination was founded by Jesus during His 
earthly ministry. Next to the Teacher of Nazareth our 
great leaders were the apostles, and the elders, bishops, 
and evangelists, who preached Christ in their time." 

Hiscox, in his Directory, says: "They commenced 
with John the Baptist, or Jesus Christ, the Head of the 
church. And the first of their faith were His disciples, 
constituting the primitive churches." 

In the History of the Eeformed Dutch Church we 
read: "The Baptist may be considered the only Chris- 
tian community which has stood since the apostles, and 
as a Christian society which Has preserved pure the doc- 
trines of the Gospel through all ages." 

Mosheim, in his Ecclesiastical History, says: "The 
true origin of that sect which acquired the name of ana- 
Baptist is hid in the remotest depths of antiquity." 

From the foregoing quotations, to which many others 
might be added to the same effect from authorities of 

(61) 



62 History of Texas Baptists. 

the highest repute, the proposition that Baptist-s have 
existed from the days of Christ seems to be most clear. 
It is not meant here to assert, however, that an unbroken 
succession of such churches in name can be traced through 
all these ages. But it is maintained that the principles 
and polity, as well as the manner of life, which are pecu- 
liar to Baptists only, and defended by Baptists only in 
loyalty to Christ, have had a succession, continuous from 
the time they were proclaimed and exemplified by Christ 
and His apostles.. 

This faith can be distinctly traced through various 
names by the following characteristic principles. They 
have contended: 

1. For the absolute independence and self-govern- 
ment of each individual church. 

2. That nothing is baptism except the immersion of 
a believer in water, and none others can have church mem- 
bership, or can come to the communion of the Lord's 
Supper. 

3. That infant baptism should be utterly rejected. 

4. The absolute necessity of the new birth in order 
- to salvation, and "justification by faith, not by works." 

5. And finally, resolutely maintaining the freedom 
of conscience against all dictation or control from all 
political and ecclesiastical power, and contending for po- 
litical liberty, as well as religious liberty, and always 
opposing the union of church and State. 

These principles have been maintained through most 
cruel persecutions. Thousands upon thousands in all 
lands have borne testimony and adhered to these God- 
given and inalienable rights and principles in dungeons 
and in flames. Thc>e persecutions have not come mainly 



A General Sketch of Baptists. 63 

from professed enemies of Christianity, but it has been 
the iron heel of ecclesiastical despotism, forming a union 
with State, which has striven to crush out these Baptist 
principles. 

In all lands where the church of Eome has been able 
to form a union with the State, Baptists have thus suf- 
fered ; not from Eome only have these persecutions come, 
but even in our own land of liberty, our brethren have 
likewise suffered. About the time of John Bunyan's 
twelve years' imprisonment in Bedford jail, where he 
was thrown at the instance of the Church of England for 
preaching Baptist doctrine, our brethren in New England 
were not only imprisoned, but were publicly whipped for 
the same cause. 

As one instance we refer to the case of Rev. Obadiah 
Holmes, who, having left the Congregationalists and 
joined the Baptists, was arrested at Lynn, Mass., in 1651, 
on a Sabbath day, while holding a Baptist meeting. He 
was taken before the Magistrates and fined £30, which 
he was not able to pay, and was led to the whipping post 
and given thirty lashes. Gov. Joseph Jenks has left on 
record the following j tatement : "Mr . Holmes was 
whipped thirty stripes, and in such an unmerciful man- 
ner that for many days, if not weeks, he could not rest, 
but lay upon his knees and elbows, not able to suffer any 
part of his body to touch the bed whereon he lay." 

Mr. Holmes himself says: "As the strokes fell upon 
me I had such a spiritual manifestation of G-od's presence 
as the like thereof I never had nor felt, nor can I with 
fleshy tongue express." 

In Virginia the Episcopal church was established by 
law, and all other forms of worship prohibited under pain 



64 History of Texas Baptists. 

of imprisonment. The first instance, perhaps, of actual 
imprisonment for preaching the Gospel was in Spottsyl- 
vania count)', on the 4th day of June, 1768, when John 
Waller, Lewis Craig and James Childs, Baptist preach- 
ers, were seized by the Sheriff while holding religious 
services on the Sabbath day, and arraigned before the 
Magistrates. On their trial a certain lawyer accused 
them, as Tertullus did Paul at Cesarea; and, addressing 
the Judges, who were trying the case, said: "May it 
please your worships, these men are great disturbers of 
the peace ; they cannot meet a man on the road but they 
must ram a text of Scripture down his throat." The 
Judges offered to release them if they would promise to 
preach no more in the county; but being Baptists, they 
refused, as the apostles did under similar circumstances, 
and they were sent into close jail; and as they marched 
on to imprisonment through the streets of Fredericks- 
burg they sung the hymn, "Broad is the road that leads 
to death," which is said to have produced a wonderful 
effect. While in jail they constantly preached through 
the bars to great crowds on the outside, and many were 
converted. 

In Semple's History of the Virginia Baptists, in 
speaking of this circumstance, it is said: "After their 
discharge, which was a kind of triumph, Waller, Craig 
and their compeers in the ministry resumed their labors 
with redoubled vigor, gathering fortitude from their late 
sufferings, and thanking God that they were counted 
worthy to suffer for Christ and His Gospel." 

In December, 1770, William Webber and Joseph An- 
thony, two zealous young Baptist preachers, were arrested 
in Chesterfield county and cast into prison for preaching 



A General Sketch of Baptists. 65 

the Gospel. In August, 1771, in Middlesex county, again 
William Webber, John Waller, James Greenwood and 
Robert Ware were all rudely seized, while Webber was 
preaching, and cast into close prison. In August, 1772, 
in King and Queen county, James Greenwood and Will- 
iam Loval, while preaching, were seized and thrust into 
prison. 

We have thus referred to a few instances to give in 
some sort an idea of what our brethren have been called 
on to suffer. These persecutions did not check the spread 
of Baptist principles, but tended rather to spread them 
abroad. The persecutors found no means to stop the 
mouths of these Baptist preachers. The blessed Gospel 
was continually sounded out through their prison bars, 
and thousands on the outside gladly heard and believed. 
In these sore oppressions the Baptists of Virginia found 
in the celebrated Patrick Henry an unwavering friend. 
Being himself a great friend of liberty, without hesitation 
he came forward in defense of these Baptist preachers. 
Thus we see that the story of the faithful Baptists has 
come down to us through prisons, written in blood and 
by the light of martyrs' fires. It has ever been the proud 
boast of Baptists that they have never persecuted others ; 
that they have never stained their fair garments with a 
stranger's or a brother's blood to force their faith upon 
them. 

FIRST BAPTISTS IN AMERICA. 

Baptists came over from England and Wales among 
the early colonists and formed churches in this country. 
Roger Williams, a distinguished and honored name, has 



66 History of Texas Baptists. 

usually been identified with the rise of Baptists in Amer- 
ica. He came from Wales to America in 1630, and set- 
tled in Salem, Mass., as a minister of the Puritan church. 
Not long afterwards he adopted Baptist views of doc- 
trine and church polity, and boldly announced his belief 
in unrestricted liberty of conscience and freedom to wor- 
ship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, 
without dictation or interference from civil or ecclesi- 
astical authority. For this mortal offense he was banished 
by his fellow Puritans and driven out of Massachusetts 
in the midst of a rigorous winter. With a few associates 
who accompanied him he wandered far into the wilder- 
ness and suffered much. Finally, fixing his location 
among the Narragansett Indians, he called the place 
Providence, in recognition of divine guidance <and preser- 
vation. This became the city of Providence, in Ehode 
Island. He and his associates determined, in 1639, to 
organize a Baptist church, but as they were all unbaptized, 
according to their view, and as they had no means of pro- 
curing a Baptist minister, the whole body of them, con- 
sisting of twelve persons, authorized Ezekiel Holliman 
to baptize Mr. Williams, who, in turn, baptized the oth- 
ers, and thus was constituted the Providence church. 

Whether this was the first Baptist church in America 
is by no means certain. It seems quite certain that there 
were many Baptists scattered over New England before 
this. It is a great mistake to suppose that all the Bap- 
tist churches in America grew out of this one which 
Eoger Williams founded. It is very doubtful whether 
any single church arose as an outgrowth of this Provi- 
dence church. 

Soon after the organization of this church twelve 



A General Sketch of Baptists. 67 

other Baptists from other parts joined this church. Other 
churches soon thereafter grew up, having no connection 
with this organization. The first church in Newport 
was constituted in 1644, and claims to be an older church 
than the first church of Providence. It is even claimed 
that Eoger Williams' church, after a year or two, was 
dissolved, and the present First Providence church is in 
reality the second church. 

In 1656 the Second church of Newport was organ- 
ized; then soon followed several churches in Massachu- 
setts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, and 
Baptists multiplied rapidly and spread widely abroad over 
the country, until they are found to be numerous in every 
State in the Union. But Eoger Williams must ever be 
remembered as the great defender of Baptist principles 
and the founder of the first government in the world with 
absolute freedom of conscience. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL INTO TEXAS. 

The Spaniards being the first Europeans to settle in 
Texas, the Catholic faith, being their established religion, 
was first introduced here. They brought with them their 
priestly government, which was established by law. As 
early as 1528 the Spaniards, under command of Narvaez, 
landed in Texas from Mexico; but after years of great 
privation were lost among the Indians. In 1540 Cora- 
nado, with Spanish troops and Catholic priests, took for- 
mal possession of the village of Isleta, a few miles from 
El Paso, on the Rio Grande river, then inhabited by 
Pueblo Indians. This was the first permanent settlement 
made in Texas. In 1585 the Catholic missionaries estab- 
lished missions in El Paso and Santa Fe, and large num- 
bers of these Pueblos were converted to that faith. 

In 1685 the French, under command of La Salle, 
landed a force, including Catholic missionaries, at Mata- 
gorda bay, and built a fort, which he called St. Louis. 
Great dissensions arose among the French, which resulted 
in the murder of La Salle and several others by their 
own comrades, and the whole colony became extinct 
through starvation and Indian depredations. 

In 1690 an expedition under command of De Leon 
landed near the mouth of Trinity river and established 
Guadalupe mission on that river among the Tejos In- 
dians. Other missions were established from time to 

(68) 



The Introduction of the Gospel into Texas. 69 

time as the Spanish settlements were extended. Wher- 
ever there was a Spanish settlement there was a presidio, 
or fortress, and wherever there was a presidio there were 
priests and a mission, and the cross was set up. 

Mission Alamo was first established on the Rio Grande 
river in 1703, but it was removed, and finally built in 
1744 on the Alamo plaza, in San Antonio, where its ruins 
still stand. The most important and greatest of all mis- 
sions was San Jose, founded in 1718 on the beautiful 
San Antonio river, a few miles below the town of San 
Antonio. The foundation was laid with great pomp and 
ceremony by Franciscan friars, assisted by Spanish 
soldiers, Mexicans and converted Comanche Indians. 
All continued to work with great zeal on this state- 
ly structure, which was at once a presidio, or 
stronghold, as well as a mission. It was sixty 
years before San Jose was completed. Other missions 
were soon built on the San Antonio river and in other 
parts of the country. The Apache and Comanche In- 
dians gathered about them in great numbers and were 
enrolled as converts, but scarcely a trace of all this priest- 
ly proselytism is at this day to be found among these 
people. 

METHODISTS. 

Methodist preachers seem to have first made their 
appearance in Texas on Red river, in what is now Red 
River county. The very first settlement made by Amer- 
icans in Texas was at this point. Before Austin's colony 
was founded, and before the Choctaw Indians were moved 
to their present location north of Red river, and while 



70 History of Texas Baptists. 

Nacogdoches was a Spanish fortress, there was a flourish- 
ing American settlement at and near Jonesboro and along 
Bed river in that section. 

In the work of M. E. M. Davis, entitled "Under Six 
Flags/' it is stated that the first Protestant sermon in 
Texas was preached in 1812 at Nacogdoches nnder the 
shade of a noted elm tree by Henry Stephenson, a Meth- 
odist preacher. Thrall's History asserts that there were 
Methodist preachers in Texas in 1820, and that the first 
church was organized in 1833 in Sabine county by James 
P. Stephenson, and the second in 1834 by Henry Steph- 
enson in San Augustine county. Methodist history claims 
that there were Methodist preachers in Texas as early as 
1819. 

Upon these points of history we have been enabled 
to consult some original sources of information not be- 
fore accessible to historians. From certain court records 
at Clarksville, from personal interviews with men who 
lived on Eed river at the time, and from manuscript 
memoranda left by M. H. Eagsdale, who lived in that 
settlement as early as 1816, and also by J. W. P. Mc- 
Kenzie and James Graham, Methodist ministers of dis- 
tinction, who, though not the first, were on the ground 
a few years later, we gather the following facts : 

As early as 1816 William Stephenson came to the 
Eed river settlement and preached his first sermon at 
the house of Mr. Wright, on Eed river, near the mouth 
of Pecan Bayou, now included in Eed Eiver county. In 
1817 Stephenson organized a Methodist society and ap- 
pointed a man by name of Tidwell class leader. This 
doubtless was the first Protestant organization in Texas. 
In 1818 there was a Methodist camp-meeting just below 



The Introduction of the Gospel into Texas. 71 

Jonesboro on Red river, conducted by William Stephen- 
son, Green Orr and Rucker Tanner, all Methodist min- 
isters. Among the Methodist ministers who soon fol- 
lowed were E. B. Duncan, Jacob Whitesides, J. W. P. 
McKenzie and James Graham. The first quarterly Con- 
ference was held in 1837 at the house of McAmis, near 
Clarksville. 

The most eminent and noted minister in this list, if 
not the most eminent in the State in his day, was J. W. 
P. McKenzie. He was a really great man. In 1839 he 
was assigned by the Arkansas Conference to the Sulphur 
Fork circuit, which included Red River county. After 
traveling this circuit two years he located and in 1841 
founded McKenzie Institute, which grew into McKenzie 
College. This school was located about three miles 
southwest from Clarksville. In a few years this became 
the most popular and prosperous school for young men 
in the State. McKenzie was in many respects a remark- 
able man. His general intelligence appeared almost 
boundless, and the scope and range of his reading and 
knowledge of men we have never seen equaled, and his 
ability to manage young men was remarkable. His school 
was intensely religious. Twenty-two hundred names are 
registered as converts at that school before 1860. 

Methodist preachers were found in the eastern part 
of Texas as early as 1821, but the first church was or- 
ganized in that section in 1833. About this time J. W. 
Kinney organized a church in Austin's colony. 

Rev. Robert Alexander came to Texas in 1836 as a 
missionary of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, 
and was stationed at Washington, and joined with Z. N". 
Morrell, the veteran Baptist preacher, Dr. Smith, a Prot- 



72 History of Texas Baptists. 

estant Methodist, and Andrew MeGowen, a Cumberland 
Presbyterian, in holding at Washington the first pro- 
tracted meeting in the conntrv. This was a meeting of 
great power and influence. This denomination has stead- 
ily advanced with the development of the country to great 
power and influence. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This denomination had its first church organiz 
in Texas in 1838 at San Augustine by Rev. Hugh Wil- 
son, and the next year he organized a church at Inde- 
pendence. About the same time John McCullough and 
W. Y. Allen organized churches at Galveston and Hous- 
ton. These ministers were in the firs: Presbytery in 
1840, which met in Washington county. From these 
early beginnings churches have multiplied all over the 
country, and they have become a strong and influential 
denomination of Christians. 

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS. 

a body of Christians was first represented in Texas 
dinner Bacon and A. J. Me Go wen in 1835, and the 
first Presbytery was constituted at Bacon's house in 1837, 
and their first Synod was organized in 1843. We quote 
McDonald's History of that denomination, as follows: 
'In 1837 our people had three preachers and four 
churches in Texas. In 1 S42 there were three Presbyteries 
and eleven ministers, and churches had grown up in all 
parts of the State 



The Introduction of the Gospel into Texas. 73 

THE CHEISTIA>T CHURCH, CiLUXG THZilSZLVZS "DIS- 
CIPLES OF CHEISr' A2TD ALSO "CHUBCH OF CHEI3T." 

Him denomination of Protestants, having had no 
general organization, and preserving no general statistics] 
and being composed of independent chnrch organizations, 
congregational in their form of government it is mani- 
festly impracticable to trace a connected history of them. 
Their first appearance in Texas, however, seems to have 
been abont 1840 or 1841. Congregations were organ- 
iied abont this time in several comities in West Texas, 
and also in North Texas, in the counties of Lamar, Red 
River and Bowie. In those days they were known as 
Canipbellites, or Reformers; bnt they have in recent 
years generally repudiated these appellations, and insist 
on being called Christians, or Disciples of Christ. When 
Bus denomination of Christians is called Campbellites 
:rr:ainly no reproach is intended. It is only as an accom- 
modation to the understanding of people generally. 

In those days there were some able preachers among 
them in Texas. On the Colorado there were Giles. 
Thomas. Dr. Ale Call and Carrington. In Korth Texas 
Mansel Mathews, a lawyer and preacher of prominence, 
being a natural orator, was widely known. McClusky. of 
Bowie county, was also a man of note. At a later date 
Dr. B. F. Hall, of Grayson county, a gifted and scholar- 
ly preacher, attracted much attention. Elder Charles 
Carleton, who has conducted a popular school at Bonham 
for many years, is a man of great force of character and 
erudition, and one of the mos: successful educators of 
Texas. One of the most influential, as well as one of the 
strongest men in the denomination, is Judsre W. K. Ho- 



74 History of Texas Baptists. 

man, preacher, lawyer, and editor of the Christian Cour- 
ier, at Dallas. These are only a few of the prominent 
names among the ministers of these people. 

In the way of education Add Kan Christian Uni- 
versity, now located at Waco, under the able manage- 
ment of Addison Clark, who has been President for 
twenty-five years, has been for a great many years a 
flourishing institution: 

Within the last few years the Christian church in 
Texas has divided into two distinct factions, having no 
affiliation with each other. This has resulted in dissen- 
sions and divisions in churches all over the State, each 
faction claiming to be the true Christian church. These 
conditions culminated in 1898 in a lawsuit in McLennan 
county, involving a decision by the courts as to which 
faction constituted the Christian church. One of these 
factions is known as the "Firm Foundation" party, and 
the other as "Progressives." The Firm Foundation fac- 
tion oppose all organizations other than churches. They 
oppose all missionary societies and conventions, and all 
boards for Christian work. They oppose also the use of 
all musical instruments in the church, and they refuse 
to accept what they consider alien baptism. That is, they 
refuse to receive any one to membership or fellowship 
immersed by a minister of another denomination, unless 
such an one understood and believed at the time of his 
immersion that baptism was for and in order to the re- 
mission of sins. They do not regard Baptists as Chris- 
tians, and reject their baptism because it is not for the 
remission of sins. 

The Progressives believe that baptism is for the re- 
mission of sins also, but they are more liberal in their 



The Introduction of the Gospel into Texas. 75 

views, and do not make this a test of fellowship, or a 
condition of church membership. The only condition 
they require is that the applicant for membership is to 
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and has been 
immersed, or is willing to be immersed. They receive to 
membership those who have been baptized by Baptists 
and those who have been immersed by other denomina- 
tions. They also use musical instruments in church 
services, and have missionary societies and conventions 
and other organizations for church work. 

In the McGregor church the Firm Foundation faction 
had a majority and locked the doors of the church against 
the Progressives, who brought suit in the District Court 
of McLennan county for the recovery of the church prop- 
erty, claiming to be the true Christian church. The judg- 
ment of the District Court was for the Progressives, and 
the higher courts have affirmed this judgment. 

These references to other denominations have only 
been introductory to the main subject we have in hand — 
the History of the Baptists of Texas. 



CHAPTER IX. 

BAPTISTS IN TEXAS PRIOR TO THE DECLARATION OF TEXAS 
INDEPENDENCE, MARCH 2, 1836. 

Baptist history proper in Texas should begin in the 
twenties. Perhaps the first Baptist who ever preached in 
this country was Freeman Smalley. He was born in Clin- 
ton county, Ohio, in 1822. At the age of twenty-nine 
years he visited New Orleans, and made his way up Red 
river on foot 500 miles, till he struck the nourishing 
settlement on Red river, twenty or thirty miles northeast 
from Clarksville. About Jonesboro, on the river, and 
Pecan Point, a few miles above, there was a prosperous 
settlement. Here Brother Smalley stopped and preached 
at the house of William Newman. How long he remained 
in this settlement we have not been able to learn. There 
were Baptists, doubtless, in that settlement, but there is 
no evidence that he made any attempt to organize a 
church, though the Methodists had established a society 
there as early as 1817. Smalley was an ardent mission- 
ary, but we are not able to trace his history after leaving 
that settlement. We only know that he returned north, 
and at a ripe old age died in Kansas. 

Joseph Bays. — This minister was the first Baptist 
preacher west of the Brazos river. He came to Texas in 
1825, and as he passed on his way west to San Antonio 
he preached at the house of Moses Shipman, near San 
Felipe, the capital of Austin's colony, and this is thought 

(76) 



By B. F. Fuller. 77 

to have been the first sermon ever preached by any Bap- 
tist minister in Texas, excepting the preaching .of Free- 
man Smalley on Eed river. When Mr. Bays reached 
San Antonio he boldly preached the Gospel, notwith- 
standing all others but Catholics were forbidden by the 
Mexican law to do so. The Catholic priests, however, 
soon made trouble, and he was ordered away by the Mex- 
ican authorities. He then returned east to San Augus- 
tine, and continued with unabated zeal to preach from 
house to house, earnestly calling sinners to repentance, 
till he was arrested; and, to avoid being sent to prison 
and bringing trouble on his friends, he agreed to leave 
Texas. 

Notwithstanding the colonists were required to take 
an oath to observe the Catholic religion, which was es- 
tablished by law, this regulation was not so strictly en- 
forced but that a few Baptists, besides Moses Shipman, 
found their way into Austin's colony, which was settled 
as early as 1822. 

Eev. Thomas Hanks. — This minister came to Texas 
from Tennessee in 1829, and, like Elder Bays, found a 
friend and a brother in Moses Shipman, and preached his 
first sermon at Shipman's house. This sermon was 
fraught with power and unction of the Spirit, and Mrs. 
Lydia Allcorn made a profession of religion during the 
service, which is said to have been the first public con- 
version in Texas; but it was not until the organization 
of the church at Independence in 1839 that she had an 
opportunity to unite with a church by baptism. 

Eev. Isaac Eeed came also from Tennessee and set- 
tled a little north of Nacogdoches in 1834, and preached 
from house to house in the face of great opposition from 



78 History of Texas Baptists. 

the priests. In 1836 he commenced preaching in a beau- 
tiful grove about four miles north of Xaeogdoches, and 
soon a log school house was erected at this spot, in which 
Reed continued to preach. 

Rev. E. Marsh. — This minister came to Texas in 
1835, and was present and assisted by Z. X. Morrell at 
Houston when he preached his first sermon there, but he 
was too old to perform much ministerial labor. He set- 
tled on the San Jacinto river, but returned soon to Mis- 
sissippi and died. 

•'Rev. Abner Smith,"'* says Dr. Burleson, "occupies 
in Texas Baptist history a doubtful and uncertain posi- 
tion," and we are indebted to him for the information 
that Smith came to Texas from Buttahachie river, in 
Alabama, in 1834, as the pastor of a primitive Baptist 
church of thirty-two members, who immigrated in a body 
with him. All settled on the Colorado river, twelve miles 
below Bastrop. But, being so affected with the anti-mis- 
sion spirit, and entirely non-co-operative, Brother Smith 
and his church faded from observation. 

Elder Isaac Crouch was a member of Smith's church, 
f bur was not in sympathy with the anti-mission spirit of 
the pastor and the greater part of the members. He 
withdrew from them and removed to Xashville, where he 
upheld a sound Baptist faith. But Morrell tells us the 
sad story that his work was cut short by an Indian raid 
in the spring of 1836, in which Brother Crouch was mur- 
dered by the Indians near where Little River Baptist 
church now stands in "Milam county. 

Rev. Z. X. Morrell. — Z. X. Morrell was the most act- 
ive and widely known of all the pioneer Baptist preach- 
ers of this period. He had been preaching in Tennessee 




^pfg? i " ■■ -■-■ 

REV. Z. N. MORRELL. 



By B. F. Fuller. 79 

about fourteen years, when his h.ealth failed, and he was 
compelled to abandon preaching on account of hemor- 
rhage of the lungs. His physicians advised a change of 
climate, and urged him to go to Texas. In 1834 he gave 
up everything in Tennessee and started with his family 
for Texas. When he reached Yellowbusha county, Miss., 
the news from Texas was so discouraging on account of 
the war then waged with fiercest cruelty by Mexico against 
the few brave settlers of Texas, that he stopped to await 
the result. Meanwhile he was not idle in his waiting, 
though he was forbidden by his physicians to preach. He 
organized three churches, and took an active part in the 
organization of an association. About the 1st of De- 
cember, 1835, a party of old acquaintances from Ten- 
nessee reached his house on their way to Texas, and among 
them was his old family physician. They urged him to 
accompany them, and the doctor advised it. The outlook 
in Texas seemed to be somewhat brighter, and he finally 
consented to go, leaving his family behind for the time. 
After a few days' preparation they set out, and on De- 
cember 21, 1835, crossed the Sabine river into Texas. 
They proceeded west by way of San Augustine and Nacog- 
doches to the Falls of the Brazos, where they intended 
to make a temporary resting place. After a short rest he 
continued his journey, and on the 30th reached the forks 
of Little river, about thirty-five miles further to the 
southwest, where he found forty Tennessee land pros- 
pectors in camp near the house of a Mr. Childress, whose 
wife was a Baptist. At the request of this family and 
these land hunters, Morrell preached his first sermon in 
Texas. After a few more days of observation he became 
thoroughly impressed with the great possibilities of the 



SO History of Texas Baptists. 

country, and the wide, open field for the spread of the 
6 : spel, and his heart burned with zeal to occupy this field. 
Believing, also, that the climate would be suitable to one 
in his state of health, he determined to bring his family 
without delay, and set out at once on his return to Mis- 
sissippi. It was Sunday, January 10, 1836, when he 
reached Xacogdoches, and, finding that an election had 
gathered together a large crowd of Americans, Mexicans 
and Indians, he determined to preach to them. Calling 
the people together at a convenient spot by an outcry 
and a song, he preached his second sermon in Texas. As 
he read his text, *The wilderness and solitary places shall 
be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blos- 
som as a rose," all recognized its peculiar appropriate- 
ness, and there was undivided attention and interest, with 
many tears and thanks to the preacher for the sermon. 

During this period of self-sacrificing zeal to plant the 
Gospel in Texas by these devoted pioneer Baptist min- 
isters, they had some noble co-laborers among the lav- 
men, whose names deserve to be preserved in everlasting 
remembrance. 

THE FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IX TEXAS. 

Thomas G. Pilgrim, a Baptist deacon from Xew York 
State, organized a Sunday-school at San Felipe, on the 
Brazos, in 1829, which is the first Sunday-school ever 
organized in Texas. Mr. Pilgrim was a native of Con- 
necticut, but had come directly to Texas from Xew York 
the year before, and was engaged in teaching a day school 
at San Felipe. In his own diary he gives the following 



By B. F. Fuller. 81 

account of the organization of this beginning of Sunday- 
schools in Texas: 

"Contemplating in imagination what Texas, from its 
great natural advantages must soon become, I felt the 
necessity of moral and religious, as well as intellectual, 
culture, and resolved to make an effort to found a Sun- 
day-school. Notice was given through the school that 
on the following Sunday an address would be delivered 
on the subject, and I was gratified to see, at the time ap- 
pointed, a large and respectable audience assembled. An 
address was delivered, and they seemed interested, and 
on the following Sunday a school of thirty-two scholars 
was organized. There were not lacking intelligent gen- 
tlemen and ladies to act as teachers, but of the other 
appurtenances of a well regulated Sunday-school we had 
none. This lack was supplied as best it could be by con- 
tributions of the citizens of such books as they had, and 
by the oral instructions of Superintendent and teachers. 
The next Sunday found the school under way, and giving 
promise of great success. A lecture was delivered each 
Sunday morning, intended for both old and young ; and 
to hear these lectures people came from the distance of 
ten miles, and as this town was the capital of the colony, 
many people were sometimes in attendance from different 
parts, who carried the good seed here sown all over the 
colony. This school and these morning lectures were con- 
tinued regularly, and were well attended, until a difficulty 
occurred between some intelligent Mexicans from the in- 
terior, who were visiting the place, and some citizens, the 
trouble growing out of a lawsuit, which was decided 
against the Mexicans. The empressario deemed it pru- 
dent to discontinue the Sundav-school for a time, as these 



82 History of Texas Baptists. 

Mexicans could not be deceived in relation to the char- 
acter of our exercises, and it was well known that we were 
acting in violation of the colonization laws, which strictly 
prohibited Austin from introducing any but Catholics as 
colonists/* 

In 1839 Brother Pilgrim moved to Gonzales, and 
soon organized a Sunday-school at that place, of which 
he continued Superintendent for thirty years, during 
which time he was very active in Sunday-school work 
generally, and participated with great interest and zeal in 
all church work and education. His name is written in 
imperishable characters in the annals of Texas Baptists, 
as well as on the pages of the history of this great State. 
He has two daughters, Mrs. M. Eastland and Mrs. C. P. 
Fly, who are still living at Gonzales. After a long life of 
exceptional usefulness, full of good works, this father of 
Sunday-schools in Texas, and noble pioneer Christian 
worker, at the age of seventy-two years, at his home at 
Gonzales, on the 29th day of October, 1877, laid aside 
his tale that had been sweet to him, and folded up his 
books that had been dear to him, and with unfaltering 
trust in God lay down to die. But while he sleeps the 
sleep that knows no waking, his works and influence will 
live on. 

Deacox H. R. Cartwell. — In 1835 Cartwell came 
from Nashville, Tenn.. and settled near Washington. 
He had been a deacon in the First Baptist church at 
Nashville, and entered with zeal into every effort to 
plant Christianity in his newly adopted country. He 
united his efforts with a few others to organize the first 
Baptist church ever constituted in Texas. This church 
was at Washington, and he became its first deacon. 



By B. F. Fuller. 83 

Deacon Cartwell was a member of the first committee 
appointed by that church in the interest of missions. 
That committee opened correspondence with the Amer- 
ican Baptist Home Mission Society, and appealed earn- 
estly for aid for Texas. This was the beginning of 
mission work in Texas. In response to this appeal an 
appointment was soon tendered to Z. 1ST. Morrell, but he 
could not accept. Then James Huckins was sent out. 
He became not only the first missionary, but one of the 
most conspicuous figures in our early history. Among 
those self-sacrificing pioneers, who came to make a na- 
tion and remained to found churches and maintain 
Christianity in Texas, should also be mentioned some 
devoted women, whose names and worthy deeds will 
always be tenderly remembered. 

Mrs. Mossie Millard. — The first prayer-meeting in 
Texas was held and conducted by Mrs. Millard. 

In 1833 she, with her husband and children, had set- 
tled near where the Old Union Baptist Church -now 
stands, a few miles north of Nacogdoches. 

During those troubulous times, it was often necessary 
to seek hiding places as security from the midnight 
raids of Indians. 

There was a clump of trees and underbrush across 
the river from her house, that afforded Mrs. Millard and 
her children' a refuge in times of special danger. There 
she would gather her children around her and kneel in 
fervent prayer. When other women and children joined 
them for the same purpose of a hiding place, she would 
every night call them together and read the holy words 
of divine inspiration, and kneeling together in that 
lonely spot where none but God could see. they would lift 



84 History of Texas Baptists. 

their hearts to Him in devout words of prayer, not only 
for their own protection, but for the safe return of their 
husbands and fathers who were out, trying with their 
strong arms to defend their homes and country. She 
moulded bullets for her husband during the day, and 
prayed for his protection and success at night. 

These services in this secluded spot increased in in- 
terest, and men frequently joined in the devotion, and 
it led into a regular prayer-meeting. This seclusion 
also secured them from the interference of the authori- 
ties, as any departure from the form of the established 
church would rarely escape the watchful eye of the Cath- 
olic priests. 

This prayer-meeting was kept up till Elder Isaac 
Reed visited that section, and arranged appointments for 
regular preaching under some spreading oaks at the 
spring near this thicket. These services soon resulted in 
the organization of Union Baptist church, the first Bap- 
tist church in East Texas. It is sometimes called the 
Old North church, and still worships near the same spot. 

Sister Millard's blameless life and devotion to her 
country and the cause of religion, as well as her la- 
bors for the good of others, entitle! her to live in last- 
1 ing remembrance in the history of Texas Baptists. She 
peacefully sleeps there in that old church yard, and that 
memorable thicket still stands, and is pointed out as a 
memorial of the first prayer-meeting ever established in 
Texas. 

Mrs. Mercer, wife of Eli Mercer, living east of the 
Colorado river, above Wharton, and Mrs. Childress, who 
lived on Little river, and at whose house Z. N. Morrell 
in 183o preached his first sermon, were women of verv 



By B. F. Fuller. 85 

distinctive characters, and ever zealous in Christian 
work. They were strong in the faith, and abounded in 
good works. They were a great support to the efforts 
of the few Baptist preachers in those early days in gath- 
ering together the few scattering Baptists into church 
organisations. These devout women deserve to live in 
the history of Texas Baptists, for their devotion to our 
faith, and labors for the good of the country. 



CHAPTER X. 

FROM THE DECLARATION OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE, 

MARCH 2, 1836, TO THE ORGANIZATION OF 

THE FIRST BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, 

OCTOBER 9, 1840. 

Following the declaration of independence, and, in- 
deed, for several months before, there were stirring times 
in Texas. By the beginning of the year 1836, public 
opinion had crystalized about the all-a%sorbing thought 
of total separation from Mexico, Austin himself en- 
couraging this movement. 

The citizens of Goliad, with the soldiers there, had 
already made a formal declaration of independence. 
This spirit of independence became so general, that a 
convention was called to meet at Washington on March 
1st, 1836. Dr. Burleson states that the blacksmith shop 
of Elder 1ST. T. Byars, being the largest building then 
in the place, was the meeting place of the convention. 
The next day, March 2d, 1836, the assembled patriots 
declared Texas a free, sovereign, and independent re- 
public. David G. Burnett was elected President, and 
General Sam Houston was appointed Commander-in- 
chief of the army. 

The Mexican army, under command of Santa Anna 
in person, had already invaded Texas. Crossing the Rio 
Grande with a strong force, he had marched rapidly to 
San Antonio, and had already shut up Col. Travis with 

(86)' 



By B. F. Fuller. 87 

183 men in the fortress of Alamo Mission, which he was 
closely investing. 

Never was greater heroism and patriotism known 
than this gallant band of Texans displayed in defend- 
ing the Alamo. 

x\fter eleven days of siege, on the 5th day of March, 
3 836, the fortress was assaulted, stormed and captured 
by five thousand Mexican soldiers. No prisoners were 
taken for the last one of the Texans died gallantly fight- 
ing. 

"Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, but Alamo 
had none." Travis, Bowie and Davy Crockett — immor- 
tal names — were among the slain. The Mexican loss 
was estimated by the Alcolde, Ruiz, who superintended 
their burial, at fifteen hundred. 

Santa Anna, flushed with this victory, though dearly 
bought, pushed on to attack Houston, who had fallen 
back east, crossing the Colorado, then crossing the Bra- 
zos, still continuing his retreat. On the 18th of April, 
Gen. Houston reached the left bank of Buffalo Bayou, 
opposite Harrisburg. From a Mexican courier, who was 
captured that evening by Deaf Smith, it was learned 
that Santa Anna was at New Washington, a few miles 
below. Houston determined to assume the offensive, and 
on the 19th crossed the Bayou and marched down the 
stream to attack Santa Anna. The two armies ap- 
proached each other on the 20th, and there was some 
sharp skirmishing that evening. When the sun arose on 
the morning of April the 21st, 1836, the two armies lay 
within a mile of each other, Houston with 783 men, and 
Santa Anna with about twice that number. Houston 
was on the banks of the Bayou, and Santa Anna was ou 



88 History of Texas Baptists. 

the San Jacinto, but no movement was apparent on either 
side, while the morning hours passed. In the afternoon, 
having constructed a temporary barricade with their 
packs and baggage, Santa Anna, officers and soldiers, 
were, according to the Mexican custom, taking their 
siesta, and there was silence about the Mexican camp. 
But Houston and the Texans were alert, and determined 
to attack the Mexicans at once. It was about three 
o'clock when Deaf Smith galloped into camp and re- 
ported that Vince's bridge across Simm's Bayou, about 
eight miles to the west, had been destroyed, according to 
Houston's order, thereby cutting off the only direct ave- 
nue of retreat to the Mexican army. The order to ad- 
vance was immediately given. With a ringing cry of 
"Kemember the Alamo," the whole Texan force rushed 
with a double-quick upon the invaders like an avalanche. 
The effect on the Mexicans was terrific. Half awake, 
and dazed by the sudden onset, they made but a feeble 
resistance, and precipitately fled. The Texans leaped the 
barricade into the very midst of the Mexican camp, and 
beat them down with the butts of their guns, and clubbed 
them with their pistols, pursuing them in their flight. 

The victory of the Texans was complete. Before 
dark the Mexicans were nearly all killed or captured. 
The Texans had lost only seven men killed and twenty- 
seven wounded. Gen. Houston was among the wounded, 
having received a shot in the ankle. The Mexican loss 
was 632 killed, 280 wounded, and 732 prisoners. 

The commanding general, Santa Anna, was among 
the prisoners. President Burnett, with the Government, 
on the approach of the enemy, had retired to Galveston. 

Gen. Houston's first duty was to send a message to 



By B. F. Fuller. 89 

the President, and Capt. Colder volunteered to be the 
messenger. 

Pres. Burnett arrived at Houston's camp with his 
cabinet on the 2?th. 

A treaty was agreed upon and signed by David G-. 
Burnett, President of the Eepublic of Texas, and Gen. 
Santa Anna, President of the Eepublic of Mexico, by the 
terms of which the Mexican army was to retire from 
Texas, and Santa Anna was to use his power and influ- 
ence to secure the acknowledgement of the Eepublic of 
Texas, on his return to Mexico, and for this purpose he 
was to be released and sent home. There was great re- 
joicing in Texas, and the ministers set about gathering 
their .flocks together to reorganize their Christian work. 
The aspect of affairs in the whole country bore a brighter 
hue. God blessed the labors of the husbandmen with 
most generous crops this year, as well as in 1837, not- 
withstanding their great embarrassment from the de- 
moralized condition of the country. 

Great impetus was given to immigration, which 
brought many Baptists to the republic .among whom are 
to be found not a few names that afterwards became 
eminent in our history in both civil and religious af- 
fairs. 

Eld. Z. X. Morrell. — Perhaps the most original and 
unique character among these in the early Baptist his- 
tory of Texas was Z. X. Morrell. 

As Daniel Boone, with his strong and rugged char- 
acter, blazed the way for civilization in Kentucky, and 
became the most conspicuous pioneer in that great com- 
monwealth: as Davy Crockett, with his no less original 
traits, impressed his character on the early history of 



90 History of Texas Baptists. 

Tennessee, and afterwards gave his life freely at the 
Alamo for Texas independence. — with no less heroism 
and individuality did Morrell, with a character no less 
strong and vigorous, tempered, however, with a Christian 
zeal that ever glowed with love and good will, blaze the 
way for the Christian missionary and the Baptist hosts 
pouring into this new and untried land called Texas,. 
He impressed his patriotism, his Christian character and 
zeal, his devotion to the Bible and soundness in the faith 
on our early history, as perhaps no other man has done. 
Xot only freely, but with joy, did he give his life to 
this work. In the earlier pages of this history a short 
sketch of MorrelFs first entry into Texas in 1835 is 
given, recounting his exploration of the country as far 
as Little river, where he preached his first sermon, and 
his return for his family. 

Morrell, however, was such a prominent factor in all 
our early history that his life necessarily includes a more 
extended notice. Hastening back to Mississippi, he dis- 
posed of his affairs there, and with his family set out 
for Texas, where he now had determined to live, labor 
and die. As they were approaching the border on the 
Sabine in April, 1836, the most startling and discour- 
aging news met them. Scores of families were fleeing 
in greatest alarm, spreading the news that the Alamo 
had fallen; that Fannin and his command had been 
butchered at Goliad; that Houston was in full retreat, 
and that the victorious and relentless Santa Anna was 
sweeping the whole country with fire and sword. 

What could have been more disheartening? What 
other hero could have braved all this? Morrell, how- 
ever, put his trust in God and pressed on. In a few 



By B. F. Fuller. 91 

days he met news as inspiring as the other was discour- 
aging. Couriers came shouting the tidings of Houston's 
great victory at San Jacinto, and Santa Anna's cap- 
ture. Morrell thanked God, and held on his way to the 
Falls of the Brazos. After getting settled in his new 
home, he announced to the few settlers there that he 
would preach every Sunday. These meetings were some- 
times broken up by rumors of the approach of the hostile 
Indians. 

In January, 1837, it was found that the ammunition 
Lt the Falls was well-nigh exhausted. As their pro- 
tection from the savages, as well as their supply of meat, 
which came mainly from wild game, depended largely on 
their rifles, all felt great apprehension. Morrell, feeling 
thoroughly identified with the interest of the country, 
did not hesitate, but offered his services at once to go 
to Washington, one hundred miles away, for powder and 
lead. On his way down he stopped at Nashville long 
enough to preach to the few settlers. On reaching Wash- 
ington, while hunting up ammunition, he gave notice, 
and at night preached the first sermon ever heard in 
that place. Having arrived with ammunition, but a 
few days elapsed till this same supply of powder and 
lead proved to be the salvation of the settlers in that 
section. 

The Indians came down on the war-path in large 
numbers, and Lieutenant Erath with fifteen men hastily 
gathered and supplied with this ammunition, met the 
Indians at the mouth of Elm creek and drove them back, 
thereby saving the settlements. 

Two brave young men were killed in this fight, one 



92 History of Texas Baptists 

of them the son of Mrs. Childress, at whose house Mor- 
rell preached his first sermon. 

In March following, his services were again in de- 
mand. He was informed confidentially by the officer in 
command that the powder and lead was again almost 
exhausted, and there was not a dollar to buy with. .Eu- 
mors of Indian raids were continually coming in. Mor- 
rell had some money, and no such appeal as this could 
go unheeded by this Christian patriot. Morrell was soon 
off for Houston, one hundred and sixty miles away, with 
his ox wagon and his own money. While he was at 
Houston he preached the first sermon ever delivered in 
that town, and then hastened his return. When he 
reached the east bank of the river opposite the soldiers' 
camp, and announced across to them that he had powder, 
lead and commissary stores, a shout went up. loud and 
long, while hats were waved in an ecstacy of joy. 

Serious Indian troubles and rumors of fresh Mexican 
invasions greatly checked the prosperity of the country 
and retarded immigration, and the opportunity for the 
Christian minister to preach the gospel was very limited. 
Morrell, however, in a short time ventured down the 
Brazos river about forty miles to Nashville, and preached 
in a little log cabin. Just as he was closing the services 
on Sunday, the Indians dashed upon them and killed 
two men in sight of the congregation. As every man 
in those perilous times carried his gun to church, the 
services were immediately transformed into an Indian 
battle. After the Indians were routed, Morrell, with a 
few others, hastily buried the dead. The funeral rites 
were short, but the tears were many and bitter. 

MorrelPs next thought was of his loved ones at 




k. e. b. bay: : : 



by B. F. Fulle;. 93 

home, forty-five miles away, and he almost shrieked as 
he saw the Indians turn in that direction. He lost not a 
moment of time, but, with a fervent prayer, he resolved 
to reach home that night. About daylight he reached 
his home and found all safe. In the summer during 
his absence the enemy had o^erpcwered the f<«t at the 
Falls, but his family made their escape down the river. 
He then concluded to make his home at Washington, 
preaching as often as possible. He organized the first 
Baptist church of Texas in 1837. 

In the latter part of 1838 he moved his family to 
LaGrange, and soon afterwards held a revival meeting 
of great interest about six miles above that town, which 
resulted in the organization oi Plum Grove Church, In 
t^e summer of 1839. 

R. E. B. Baylor. — Perhaps the rr->st distinguished 
Baptist that reached Texas during this period was Judge 
Baylor. His great powers and influence have, without 
doubt, been more marked in early Baptist history, than 
any of the great names of his time. 

Judge Baylor came to Texas in January, 1839, from 
the Tuskaloosa District, in Alabama, where he had been 
twice elected to Congress. 

Kentucky was his native State, where he commenced 
the practice of law, and became a politician of note. 
In Alabama, as a lawyer and as a politician, the bright- 
est prospects opened before him. 

In 1838, at the age of 48 years, while attending a 
meeting conducted by his cousin, Thomas Chilton, at 
Talladega, Ala., he made a public profession of religion. 
He joined the Baptist church at that place and was bap- 
tized without delay. Feeling a profound impression to 



9-1 History of Texas Baptists. 

preach the Gospel, he began straightway to tell the story 
of the cross, and was licensed by his church to preach. 

When he first reached Texas he located at La 
Grange and taught school for a time. He was, however, 
soon found by Morrell and called out to exercise his 
eminent gifts in preaching the Gospel. 

Baylor was a great man in every way, and did not 
shirk any duty. He was always ready not only to defend 
the faith, but to defend his country also against Mexi- 
cans and Indians. He was a volunteer in the ranks 
under Gen. Ed Burleson at the bloody Indian fight on 
Plum creek, and participated in the campaign of 1842. 
He served one term in the Texas Congress, and was 
for awhile a Justice of the Supreme Court. He was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention, and served 
fifteen years as District Judge. 

During all these years, his labors as a Christian min- 
ister were incessant. He thoroughly identified himself 
with the people of God wherever he went, and never lost 
an opportunity to speak a word for Christ. He would 
often conduct protracted meetings during the session of 
his court, holding court during the day and preaching 
at night. 

Rev. E. G. Green. — From the scraps of the history 
of Mr. Green's ministerial labors in Texas, which we 
have been able to get, he appears to have been an able 
man. He was one of the ministers who organized Union 
church in 1838, near Nacogdoches. It seems to be un- 
certain as to when he came to Texas, and from what 
State he came. He preached in the neighborhood of 
Huntsville for a short time, and then went further west. 
He was a lawyer, as well as a preacher, and his command- 



By B. F. Fuller. 95 

ing ability was manifest in both these fields. He was 
a strong man. His usefulness, however, was destroyed 
by intemperance. 

Elder T. W. Cox. — In 1838 this minister came 
from Alabama to Texas and located in Washington 
county, where he commenced his ministerial labors. The 
next year he assisted Judge Baylor in the organization 
of Travis church, and with the assistance of J. L. Davis, 
constituted La Grange church, being one of the con- 
stituent members. He became pastor at Independence, 
Travis and La Grange. 

. In 1840 he assisted in the organization of Union As- 
sociation, embracing these three churches, and became 
the first moderator. Cox was a man of great power, and 
was a captivating speaker, well equipped by natural and 
acquired abilities, to do a great work for Christ in build- 
ing up the true faith in Texas. 

His usefulness among Baptists, however, was cut 
short by his tendency towards the doctrines of Alexan- 
der Campbell, which he soon openly advocated. 

Elder Asa Wright. — In 1839 Mr. Wright came to 
Texas and stopped first in East Texas, where he preached 
for a short time, and went on west to the Colorado. 

Brother Wright became a co-laborer with Morrell, 
and was an active and faithful minister between the 
Brazos and Colorado rivers for many years. He was the 
father of J. V. and W. T. Wright, the twin brothers, 
who are mentioned by Morrell as having been converted 
at a meeting held in 1839 at the house of Deacon Seal- 
lorn, who lived on the Colorado, near where Plum Grove 
church was afterwards located. 

These twin brothers, being convicted together, were 



96 History of Texas Baptists. 

converted and baptized together; and afterwards 
preached together with great usefulness. 

Eichard Ellis came to Texas in September, 1837, 
from Southampton county, Virginia. He had united 
with a Baptist church before coming to Texas, and in 
a few months after reaching this country he became im- 
pressed with a call to preach the Gospel. He was or- 
dained to the full work of the ministry in 1842, by a 
presbytery composed of Baylor and Morrell. 

Mr. Ellis was one of the constituent members of the 
old Washington church, organized in 1837. After this 
church was dissolved, he became a member jf Macedon- 
ia church, and was pastor of Travis, Plum Grove and 
others. He is said to have been a great student, and 
kept well informed in matters of public interest, as well 
as the (to him) all-absorbing cause of Christ. He was 
always in demand as pastor, and his meetings were at 
times attended with great revivals. Many bear testi- 
mony to his mental power, eloquent speech and fervent 
zeal. 

Dr. Stribling recounts Judge Baylor's first meeting 
with Ellis, when he at once recognized in him special 
gifts and graces befitting a minister of the Gospel, an^ 
advised him to preach. This added strength to his pre- 
vious convictions, and he yielded and gave all the e$ or- 
gies of his manhood 'o the work of the ministry. 

Xoaii T. Byars. — One of the most active and inde- 
fatigable pioneer Baptist preacners of Texas was N. T. 
Byars. His was a long, consecrated life ; through clouds 
and sunshine; through wars and in peace; trials and tri- 
umphs, he gave his best energies to the service of his 
Master in upbuilding the cause ot Christ and tearing 




REV. N. T. BYARS. 



By B. F. Fuller. 97 

down the works of Satan; in defending the true faith, 
and contending against error; in calling sinners to re- 
pentance, and pointing Christians to a holier life. 

Byars joined a Baptist chnrch in South Carolina in 
1824, at the age of sixteen years. His earliest impres- 
sions were to devote his life to the Gospel, but feelings of 
unworthiness and incapability caused him to hesitate; ■ 
and fot a long time he hung between duty and despon- 
dency. 

In 1835 he made his way to Texas with the hope of 
wearing away these impressions amid the wild excite- 
ments of this new country. 

He first stopped at Washington and worked at the 
blacksmith trade, and rendered valuable service to Gen. 
Houston in the early part of 1836, in preparation of an 
outfit for the campaign against Santa Anna. It was in 
his blacksmith shop where the Constitutional Convention 
met and adopted the Declaration of Texas Independence. 
He assisted in the organization, at Washington, of the 
first Baptist church of Texas, in 1837. He married in 
1838, and moved to Bastrop, on the Colorado. About 
this time his impressions were so vivid that St. Paul's 
words were constantly ringing in his ears, "Woe is me 
if I preach not the Gospel/' He went to La Grange to 
get the advice of Judge Baylor, but failing to find him, 
he consulted T. W. Cox, which resulted in his accom- 
panying Cox to Macedonia church below Austin, where 
they held a meeting; and then and there Byars was li- 
censed to preach. 

On the 16th day of October, 1841, a presbytery, com- 
posed of Morrell and John Woodruff, duly ordained 
Brother Bvars to the ministrv. President Lamar and 



98 History of Texas Baptists. 

several of his cabinet officers attended this meeting to 
witness the ceremony. 

During this period, the Baptists of Texas were also 
greatly strengthened by the coming of some noble Chris- 
tian workers and consecrated men among the laymen. 

Deacon William Scallorn came to Texas from 
Tennessee in 1837, and settled in Fayette county, on the 
Colorado river. He had joined the church in early life, 
and there was no more consistent Christian life than was 
exemplified by him in all the affairs of this work-a-day 
world. 

As there were no church buildings in those early 
times, his house was always open for worship, and was a 
veritable preacher's home. His heart seemed ever warm 
with experimental religion. In Baptist doctrines and 
usages, he was well versed, and maintained them with 
devotion, but he loved a Christian wherever he found 
him, whether he bore the name of Baptist or not. He 
stood high in the confidence and respect of all classes, 
and was for a great many years a deacon of the Plum 
Grove church. Pastors sought his advice, and his breth- 
ren looked to him for counsel. 

In this manner he spent a long life of usefulness 
and devotion to duty. Not until he was 90 years old, 
were his labors finished, and then he passed away to a 
well-deserved reward. 

His numerous children, grand children, and great- 
grand children were nearly all members of the church, 
respected and prosperous. Without a blot on his name, 
and full of good works, his life was most certainly ap- 
proved by his Heavenly Father : and when the final sum- 



By B. F. Fuller. 99 

mons came he was ready and went with gladness to his 
rest. His life is a precious heritage. 

H. P. Cartwell, A. Buffixgtox axd James E. 
Jexkixs. — In a previous chapter, a short sketch of Cart- 
well is given, showing that he came from the First Bap- 
tist church of Nashville. Tenn. It is now our wish to 
connect with him A. Bufnngton. from the same church, 
and James E. Jenkins, from the State of Georgia, as a 
trio of noble Christian workers. Together they went 
into the organization of the Washington church in 1837; 
and together, at the very first conference, were appointed 
a committee to correspond with the Baptists of the States 
and the Home Mission Board in regard to the great 
destitution in Texas. This was the initiatory step in 
Baptist Missions in Texas. This committee at once set 
about their work with great zeal and earnestness, and 
their efforts marked an era in Texas Baptist history of 
vast import and boundless effects; a concatenation of 
circumstances, that was simply remarkable, led to results 
that were grand and wonderful. Jenkins had been- a 
student of Mercer University, and had been on intimate 
terms with the distinguished Jesse Mercer, the great 
friend of missions and education. 

The committee issued a strong appeal for help, and 
Jenkins sent a copy to his old Georgia friend. Mercer, 
who at once wrote a letter to the Home Mission Board at 
New York, in which he said: 

"The splendid climate and rich soil of Texas are 
destined to attract a vast population, which must be 
evangelized, for which I inclose you $25,000, and will 
double it when necessary." 

The Board at once acted on the suggestion of Mer- 



100 History of Texas Baptists. 

cer, and sent out James Huckins, and on his further sug- 
gestion, appointed and sent' out W. M. Tryon, a former 
student of Mercer. Huckins and Tryon were the first 
missionaries to Texas, and were young men of fervent 
piety and finished education, and commanding ability. 
They kindled a flame of missionary zeal in this country 
that was enduring, and with some others, set in motion 
the spirit of progress that has been felt throughout Tex- 
as, as we shall see further on in these pages. 

Buffington was a volunteer under Gen. Houston at 
San Jacinto, and was detailed as one of the guards of 
Santa Anna, after his capture. In 1841, he was ordained 
to the ministry at Washington, and was probably the first 
minister to baptize a convert in the Brazos river. 
Churches Organized from 1836 to 1840. 

Thrall states in his History of Texas, that there was a 
Baptist church organized in Austin's Colony m 1833, 
but does not give the name or locality, and we have failed 
to identify or locate such a church from other sources. 

Washington Church. — The first Baptist church 
of Texas, of which we have a definite account, was or- 
ganized at Washington in 1837. There were eight mem- 
bers in the organization : Z. N. Morrell, H. P. Cartwell, 
A. Buffington, from Tennessee ; Eichard Ellis, from Vir- 
ginia ; N". T. Byars, of South Carolina ; J. R. and W. H. 
Jenkins, of Georgia, and one other. Morrell was chosen 
pastor, Cartwell was recognized as deacon, and J. R. 
Jenkins was made clerk. The church went to work at 
once with ardor and energy, and at the very first con- 
ference meeting, appointed the famous Committee on 
Correspondence in the interest of mission work in Texas, 
already referred to in this chapter. The church also took 



By B. F. Fuller. 101 

immediate steps to build a house of worship, but the dif- 
ficulties were great, and in the changing circumstances 
of the times, everything was uncertain. The house was 
never built. By the beginning of 1839, Washington had 
ceased to be a point of interest, by reason of the seat 
of government being established at Houston, and the 
greater part of the brethren moved away, and this pion- 
eer church of Texas was dissolved. 

Union Church. — This organization, sometimes 
called the Old Xorth church, was constituted on the 
first Sunday in May, 1838, by Isaac Reed and R. E. 
Green, in a log school house about four miles north of 
Xacogdoches. This is the first Baptist church organ- 
ized in Texas that has maintained its existence. There 
were nine that entered into the constitution of this 
church : John Eaton and wife, Chas. H. TVhitaker, Sa- 
rah Tipps, Mary Drain and Emily Knight, all bearing 
letters from churches in Tennessee; Ruth Anderson, 
from Missouri; and also two negro servants, belonging 
to B. F. WhitakeT, but the names of these faithful pion- 
eer Christians among our slaves have not been preserved. 
In those days of negro slavery, it was customary to re- 
ceive the servants into the same church with their mas- 
ters. On the same day of the organization of the church, 
B. F. Whitaker united with the church and was baptized 
by Rev. Isaac Reed, who had become pastor. This was 
the first baptism in Texas. This church was the out- 
come of the first prayer-meeting ever held in Texas, 
which has already been referred to. as conducted by Mrs. 
Mossie Willard, in a secluded spot near by. 

In 1839 this church enjoyed a gracious revival, and 
large numbers were baptized. This grand old church, 



102 History of Texas Baptists. 

being the second organization in Texas and the first 
maintaining its existence, is living today, and has stood 
as a beacon light through all the vicissitudes of more 
than sixty years. 

Plum Grove. — For most of the facts in connection 
with the early history of this church, we are indebted to 
the kindness of Brother W. P. Karnes, who has been 
clerk for a great many } r ears, and whose knowledge ex- 
tends throughout its whole history. A sketch published 
in the Minutes of Colorado Association of 1858, has also 
supplemented Brother Karnes' statements. 

This church is located about ten miles above La 
Grange, on the west side of the Colorado river. It was 
organized in March, 1839, by Rev. R. G. Green and 
Eli Dancer, on thirteen members. 

Notwithstanding there were three ordained minis- 
ters in the church, no regular pastor was called till 18-42, 
when Z. X. Morrell was then chosen. In the previous 
year, however, William Scallorn had been ordained dea- 
con, and Stephen Scallorn elected church clerk. Before 
the organization of this church, Morrell had held a meet- 
ing of many days at the house of Deacon Scallorn, near 
where the church house was afterward built. At these 
services Mrs. Dancer was converted, and sought to unite 
with a small Primitive Baptist church about twelve miles 
above, of which Abner Smith was pastor. As he was 
then an invalid, the church requested Morrell to admin- 
ister the rite of baptism. Morrell baptized her in the 
Colorado about the first of March, 1839. This was Mor- 
rell's first baptism in Texas, and the very first west of 
the Trinity river. 

Plum Grove church had a gracious revival soon after 



By B. F. Fuller. 103 

its organization, and many were saved. It was an- 
nounced at this meeting, that a number of persons would 
be baptized at the next meeting, two weeks off. When the 
time came, so great was the interest, and so novel were 
such scenes in this new country, that prsons were present 
from the neighborhood of Columbus, forty miles down , 
the river, and from the settlements forty miles above. I 

On Sunday of this meeting, nine persons, who had 
been approved, were led down by Morrell and baptized 
in the beautiful Colorado. A small house, with a brush 
arbor in front, had been prepared for the meeting. 
Judge Baylor, who was present, invited the vast crowd 
inside, where he preached to them with a fervor that was 
truly inspired. This sermon on this occasion is described 
as incomparably grand in pathos, and most powerful in 
spiritual appeal. 

After the sermon, that consecrated band of Chris- 
tians, with the faithful ministers, Morrell and Baylor, 
gathered around the table in that little log cabin* and 
partook of the Lord's Supper for the first time in Texas. 
There were many happy Christians there that day, whose 
hearts overflowed with joy. 

Eegular meetings were continued, and seven others 
were soon added to the church, making a total member- 
ship of 29 in the summer of 1839. 

Subsequently this church was occasionally favored 
with preaching from such eminent ministers as Tryon, 
Huckins, Hosea Garrett, and Noah Hill. 

Independence. — The Baptist church at Independ- 
ence was constituted with twelve members on Saturday 
before the first Sunday in September, 1839.' Eev. 
Thomas Spraggins, of Mississippi, being present, assist- 



104 History of Texas Baptists. 

ed in the organization. The constituent members were 
John McNeese, Ivy McXeese. Jeanette IftcNeese, J. J. 

Davis. Thomas Tremmier, Mary MeXeese, Biddy D^ivis, 
Martha Tremmier. 0. H. P. Garrett. J. L. Davis and 
wife, and Diadema Watson. Soon afterwards. James 
D. Alcorn and wife. Lidia Alcorn, were received and 
baptized. 

J. J. Davis and John McXeese were made deacons, 
and Thomas Tremmier was elected clerk. Soon after 
organization a very valuable meeting was held by W. 
M. Tryon, which resulted in 34 baptisms and 21 re- 
ceived by letter, making at once perhaps the strongest 
Baptist church in the republic. T. W. Cox was the first 
pastor, but strong Campbellite tendencies soon developed 
in his preaching, which led to trouble in the church. 
Deacon Claw, under the influence of this teaching, as- 
sumed the right to baptize L. P. Pucker. The church. 
by a small majority, declared this baptism invalid. About 
this time Tryon was chosen joint pastor, and his views 
on these points were in direct conflict with Cox. The 
church suffered greatly by Cox's deflections, and for 
several years could make but little progress. It. how- 
ever, steadfastly maintained the faith, and eventually 
became a church of great power and influence. 

Perhaps no church in Texas has done more for mis- 
sions and education, in proportion to means. Independ- 
ence Baptist Church will ever stand out in history as a 
landmark on these lines. 

La G-eaxge Church. — In the early part of 1839, 
this church was organized at the town of L _■.-. by 

T. W. Cox and J. L. Davis. There were nine constitu- 
ent members, and Cox became the first pastor, being also 



By B. F. Fuller. 105 

one of the original members. This church, as well as 
Independence, was well-nigh wrecked by dissensions. 
Several years elapsed before harmony prevailed. 

Travis Church. — In the summer of 1839, Travis 
church was constituted by T. W. Cox and Judge Baylor, 
on seven members. Cox became the first pastor, and 
commenced his duties immediately after organization. 

Campbellite views gained the ascendency in this 
church, and the adherents of this doctrine separated en- 
tirely from those who stood by the Baptist faith, voting 
themselves letters and starting a Campbellite church. 

Morrell was then chosen pastor of the old church, but 
continued only one year. The church never recovered its 
former strength, but struggled on till 1847, when it 
was at last dissolved. 



CHAPTER XI.— 1540 A.\~T> ISil. 

z^z first baptist associahoh i» texae 

X: gloomier days came to the infant Bepublic of 
; than those that ushered in ithe year 1840. During 
the previous year, the settlers had been so harrassed by 
wars and rumors of wars on every hand, that society and 
the affairs of the country were unsettled and uncertain. 
The demoralized condition of the currency was very de- 
:::t ;; :z_: :: Vifi'.Lr??. .".:::: ':'.:- ::::.::::-: a::: — :r :*:ir ::~:p'.r 
were now almost beyond endurance. The currency of 
[Texas was worth only fourteen cents on the dollar. Most 
of the settlers had been so often called on to drive back 
the Indians, that they had not been able to make a crop. 
Immigration was also greatly checked. Gloomy and 
dark as these days were, the churches did not languish, 
but ^ ere in the main prosperous. The very helplessness 
of the people drove them to more dependence on Al- 
mighty power, and more trust in God. The less com- 
fort and peace the world could give them, the more they 
looked to Heaven for help. In August, 1840, the In- 
dians swept down in large numbers over the country, 
killing and stealing, their invasion reaching to the coast. 
They pillaged and burnt the town of Linnsville, killing 
several persons, and carrying away captive a Mrs. Wart?. 
after brutally murdering her husband. They passed in 
sight of Z. X. Morrell. returning from a preaching tour, 
who, always alert, hastened to inform CoL Ed Burleson. 

(106) 



Thi First Baptist Association in Texan. 107 

He, with Ben and Henry AlcCulloueh, Jack Hays and 
Felix Huston, called together all the men of Colorado 
Valley and the Gauoalupe, and met the Indians, about 
500 strong, on Plum creek. A bloody battle ensued, in 
which engagement were the three noted Baptist preach- 
ers. Z. N. Morrell, Judge R E. B. Baylor and T. W. Cox. 
The Indians were routed, but as they commenced, the re- 
treat, they attempted to kill their prisoners. ^lorrelFs 
attention was attracted by the screams of a woman in 
a clump of bushes just abandoned by the Indians, and 
hastening to the spot he found Mrs. Watts, who had been 
captured at Linnsville. With her hand* grasping an In- 
dian arrow, that was buried deeply in her breast, she 
was trying vainly to pull it out. Xear her" a white 
woman and a negro woman lay dead, pierced with ar- 
rows. Morrell seized her hands and with difficulty loose 
them from their hold. He called a surgeon, and finally 
they succeeded in extracting the instrument of torture 
from the suffering woman, and she was cared for as best 
they could. She eventually recovered and lived a long 
and useful life. Amid these troubles and many more 
similar ones, the cause of Christ was not overlooked. 

In June, Baylor. Cox. Dancer and Smith met with a 
few brethren in Independence, to take steps looking to 
the organization of an Association. After some prelim- 
inaries, they adjourned to meet with Travis church in 
Austin county. On the 8th daj :f October, 1840, they 
met and messengers were present from three churches. 
From Independence. J. J. Davis, John McNeese and 
Thomas Tremmier; from Travis. W. H. Cleveland, J. 
W. Collins and James Hall: from La Grange, E. E. B. 
Baylor, T. W. Cox, J. L. Davis an:; J L. Hester. The 



108 History of Texas Baptists. 

next day, October 9th, 1840, Union Association was or- 
ganized, with Cox, Moderator; Collins, Clerk, and Judge 
Baylor, Corresponding Secretary. In adopting Articles 
of Faith and a Constitution, they went further than 
such bodies usually go, and adopted also what they 
termed a Bill of Inalienable Eights, which we copy in 
full as follows: 

"Article 1. Each church is forever free and inde- 
pendent of any and every ecclesiastical power, formed by 
men on earth, each being the free household of Christ. 

"Therefore, every ordination and power granted by 
the churches, emanating directly, as they do, from the 
churches, those who are thus ordained, or upon whom such 
power is conferred, must be to her forever obedient. 

"Article 2. Each member shall forever have a full 
and free right to exercise his or her own discretion in 
contributions to the support of missions, general be- 
nevolence, etc., and in other matters that may not lead 
to immorality." 

This effort, on the part of an Association to define 
and designate the inalienable rights of churches, and the 
inalienable rights of the members of a church, was un- 
usual, and seemed outside the province of a Baptist As- 
sociation. The churches needed no aid and assistance 
from this body to uphold their sovereign and independ- 
ent character; and it could furnish none. The mem- 
bers of the churches needed no declaration from this 
body to settle their rights. They were amenable to theii 
churches, and not to this body. The Association had 
nothing to give, and could give nothing in this line, 
either to the churches or the members of the churches. 

Before the next session of this body, several new 
churches were constituted. 




REV. JAMES HUCKINS. 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. 109 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GALVESTON. 

As a result of the labors of the committee appointed 
by the First Washington church at its organization in 
1837, the American Baptist Home Mission Society sent 
Elder Jame"s Hnckins to Galveston in 1839. He was the 
first missionary ever sent by Baptists to Texas. He 
commenced his labors with earnestness, and on the 30th 
day of January, 1840, organized the First Baptist 
church of Galveston on nine members, namely: George 
Fellows, from New Hampshire; David E. Wright, from 
Massachusetts; Francis W. Pettigrove, from Maine; 
Lewis Graves, from New York; Mrs. Louisa E. Bor- 
den, from New York, and Mrs. Abigail W. Bartlett, 
from Massachusetts. After the organization three other3 
were received, who did not have, at the time, letters of 
dismission from their churches, namely: Barnabas Has- 
kell and Mr. Abigail Haskell, from Connecticut, and 
Mrs. Sarah A. Burnett, from Louisiana. On the same 
evening the church received for baptism Gail Borden, 
a name not unfamiliar to Texans, and his wife, Penelope 
Borden, who were baptized February 4, 1840, in the 
Gulf of Mexico, which was the first gospel baptism in 
that great body of water in Texas. They completed the 
church organization on the 14th day of this month, by 
adopting Articles of Faith and a church covenant. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOUSTON - . 

Huckins, in pursuance of his missionary work, 
preached also in Houston, and on the 10th day of May, 
1841, constituted the First Baptist church of Houston, 
on sixteen members: Barnabas Haskell, Abagail Has- 
kell, S. P. Andrews, Mary A. Andrews, Martha Mul- 



110 History of texas Baptists. . 

ryne, Louisa Jane Shroder, Elizabeth Ainsworth, Piety 
L. Hadley, Obedience Smith, Mary George, Israel B. 
Bigalow, Gardner Smith, Sarah L. Eobinson, Hannah 
Towner, Mary H. Bigalow, and Elizabeth C. Wilson. 
S. P. Andrews and LB. Bigalow were elected deacons, 
and Gardner Smith clerk. Articles of Faith and a 
church covenant were adopted, and Huckins was selected 
to be their pastor. A council of public recognition was 
called for the first Sabbath in May, and it was agreed 
that the church celebrate the Lord's Supper on that oc- 
casion. There seems to be no record of the action of 
that council, but it is presumed th»t there wa^ a vote of 
approval. 

These councils of recognition, which are, perhaps, too 
much neglected in these days of restless hurry and tele- 
graphic speed, are for the purpose of welcoming a new 
church into the brotherhood of churches. If, on exam- 
ination, its doctrines, circumstances and reasons for or- 
ganization are satisfactory and Baptistic, the church is 
recognized. This custom is deemed a prudential meas- 
ure, to guard against irregularities in doctrine and prac- 
tice. A vote of approval by such a council secures to the 
church the sympathy, co-operation and fellowship of sis- 
ter churches. 

MOUNT GILEAD CHURCH. 

This church, situated in Washington county, was evi- 
dently constituted in 1840, as it sent messengers to the 
second session of Union Association, held with the La- 
Grange church in 1841. But very little is known of its 
early history. It seems to be certain that in 1842, when 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. Ill 

the Mexican invasion made it unsafe to meet at Wash- 
ington, Union Association met with this church, and 
that in 1845 it also entertained this body. 

W. M. Tryon. — Under the direction of the Home 
Mission Society, Jas. Huckins, during a portion of 1839 
and 1840, traveled extensively in Texas, and obtained 
much valuable information in respect to this mission 
field. His report was published in many periodicals in 
the States. He also made soul-stirring appeals from 
many pulpits on his visit to the United States, and kin- 
dled a flame of sympathy for Texas that brought scores 
of self-sacrificing Baptists to the State. The Board 
made a stirring appeal to ministers, and asked in capital 
letters, "WHO AMONG THEM WILL GO TO TEX- 
AS?" 

This reached W. M. Tryon amid his labors 
of great success in Alabama, and he responded 
at once, "Here am I, send me." In January, 1841, with 
a commission from the Board, he landed in Texas. He 
located in Washington county, between Independence and 
the town of Washington, and at once commenced his 
noble work that has been crowned with such glorious 
results to Texas and Texas Baptists. He began his work 
at Washington, where the first church organized had 
been disbanded and the few saints were scattered and dis- 
heartened ; but he gathered them together and soon a 
new life was very much in evidence; and on the second 
Sunday, March 1841, he, assisted by Judge Baylor, or- 
ganized Washington church No. 2, with eleven mem- 
bers. Articles of Faith and a church covenant were 
adopted, and Tryon was elected pastor, and A. Bufnng- 
ton clerk. 



112 History of Texas Baptists. 

At the regular meeting in July, there were received 
into the church 25 by letter and 29 for baptism, and 
messengers to Union Association were appointed. 

Second session of Union Association met in 1841, 
with La Grange church, which was then holding its serv- 
ices at Clear creek, near the town. There were messen- 
gers from eight churches — Independence, La Grange, 
Travis, Galveston, Houston, Washington, Macedonia and 
Mt. Gilead. The letters showed a wonderful prosperity. 
Of a total membership in the churches of 384, there were 
290 who had been baptized during the year just past. 
Elder W. M. Tyron was elected Moderator; W. H. Ew- 
ing, Clerk, and Judge Baylor, Corresponding Secretary. 

During this session, a Home Mission Society was or- 
ganized, and Z. X. Morrell and A. Buffington afterwards 
labored under commission of this body. This Associa- 
tion developed great interest in education, and the 
subject enlisted the most earnest consideration and discus- 
sion from such master builders as Baylor, Huckins and 
Tryon, and many other able men in the body. At this 
session a resolution was passed, recommending the for- 
mation of an Education Society. Baylor, as Correspond- 
ing Secretary, recommended it, but the leading, moving 
spirit in the enterprise seems to have been W. M. Tryon, 
at whose instance the following resolution was adopted: 
"Kesolved, That this Association recommend the forma- 
tion of an Education Society, and that our friends and 
brethren be invited to become members of it." 

A partial organization was affected at this time. 
This was the beginning of the great educational enter- 
prise that has culminated in such glorious results to 
Texas Baptists, and the Texas people at large. It was 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. 113 

not, however, till 1843 that the Society was fully organ- 
ized and equipped for successful work. Great irregulari- 
ties had become apparent in some of the preachers of the 
Association. These were so obtrusively present during 
this session of the body, that the faithful brethren de- 
termined that the issue must be met. The pas- 
tor of this church, in a sermon, openly avowed 
the doctrines of Alexander Campbell, and ex- 
tended an invitation for members. When he was pro- 
ceeding, however, to receive them after the manner of 
the reformation, objections were raised, and the circum- 
stances called out a protest from Tryon, Huckins and 
others. The church finally postponed action to its reg- 
ular conference meeting, the result of which will be 
found in our chapter on Heresy. The Association ad- 
journed to meet with the Washington church in 1842, 
but the invasion of Texas by the Mexicans called into 
the field so many, and the alarm was so great, that the 
meeting did not take place according to resolution of ad- 
journment. Rev. James Huckins, who had been re- 
quested to prepare a circular letter to appear in the 
minutes, performed that task in an admirable style, and 
the letter appears in the minutes of this year. This cir- 
cular letter is so full of the consecration and devotion of 
our Texas fathers, and is such an able exposition of our 
faith, that it is pointed to as a model. Giving as it does 
such a clear insight into our true history in those pioneer 
days, perhaps we could not do better than to give it here 
in full: 



"Dearly Beloved in the Lord: — The present is a 
season of joy with you, and it is suitable to vent your 



114 History of Texas Baptists. 

pious emotions by every demonstration of gratitude and 
thanksgiving. I do rejoice with you in view of what God 
hath wrought; and yea, I will rejoice! But though this 
is the case, I cannot look upon your present condition and 
future prospects but with trembling solicitude. Your 
; obligations as Christians, and as churches, have been im- 
j measurably increased during the past year. A weight of 
responsibility has been taken by you, which you have 
never before sustained. You have taken, and God has 
given, the vows of God and all the duties and obligations 
of the churches of Jesus Christ. The great design of 
God in planting His church in this dark world is, first, 
the edification and improvement in holiness of its own 
members, and secondly, through their instrumentality 
to enlighten and save those who are dead in trespasses 
and sins. Ye are the light of the world. 'Let your light 
so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, 
may glorify your Father which is in Heaven/ And what 
the church of God is to the world generally, He has de- 
signed every particular branch of this church to be to 
the particular community in which it is located. To be 
blessed, and, under God, to bless. For this double pur- 
pose God has caused you, my brethren, to be gathered 
into churches. To answer this design, ye have entered 
into holy covenant with God, and with one another. The 
eyes of God and the churches of our mother land, of 
this nation and of the world, are fastened upon you, to 
see if ye will fulfill your vows — if ye will answer the 
purpose of God. Your organization as churches, and as 
an association, has not been hid. What you have done 
has not been done in a corner. iSTo; the intelligence of 
it is now going forth to every part of the Christian world. 
Already has prayer gone up for you in Europe, in Asia, 
and in some of the islands of the sea. 

"The expectation of Christians throughout the world, 
and of angels, have been raised by us, and I doubt not 
but the fears of infidels and of Satan have been excited. 
Brethren, we stand upon solemn ground, — we have re- 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. 115 

ceived a trust of infinite value. Are we prepared to ful- 
fill the designs of God? — to answer the expectations of 
Christians and of angels? Let us look for a moment at 
our qualifications for this great and glorious work. 
Some of us, it is true, have been members of the church of 
Christ for years. But still it is to be feared that we 
have progressed but a short distance in the narrow way. 
Our attainments in holiness and in divine knowledge are 
small. We, as yet, are but babes in Christ ; passion, and 
sinful habit, and the world have been but partially cru- 
cified. Many of our members have been but recently 
restored from a protracted course of backsliding, in 
which, by example and precept, we inflicted such a wound 
on the cause of our Eedeemer as is now but partially 
healed. The influence of former sins and habits, is still 
lurking about our hearts, ready to draw them away from 
God again. And, again, a very great majority of our 
members have been but recently converted ; they are babes 
in Christ, young and tender, peculiarly exposed to injury 
and danger, like young plants. While in the judgment 
of charity, there must be others of our number, whose 
hearts have never been changed by the Spirit of God, 
who have been induced to connect themselves with our 
churches by the power of sympathy, and the persuasions 
of misguided brethren. Besides, we were all but as 
strangers yesterday to each other, having come from dif- 
ferent sections of the country, and having brought with 
us different opinions and prejudices. 

"Our ministers, too, are few in number; they are 
young and inexperienced in the great work of the pastoral 
office. With these qualifications, with this great amount 
of weakness and inexperience, are we prepared to answer 
the design of God ? Are we not, on the contrary, exposed 
to great evils, to the deceptive acts of false teachers, to 
suffer from internal divisions and party strife ? Are not 
the gifts and graces of the young members of our 
churches liable to wither and languish for want of care 
and nutrition? These, brethren, are some of the evils 



116 History of Texas Baptists. 

which we have reason to fear, and they are evils 
which, it seems to me, are sure to come upon ns, unless 
prevented by the power of God's Spirit. But if God 
shall be on our side, then all these evils will vanish. 
Through God the psalmist could leap over a wall and 
run through a troop; and through Christ Paul declares 
he can do all things. 

"How, then, are these babes in Christ to be made 
strong, these wanderers retained at. their Father's house; 
the deceived to be enlightened; all these differences in 
education and habit removed ; and all the members of our 
different bodies be brought into harmonious and vigorous 
action, thus occupying that elevated Christian stand 
which God has designed for His earthly church? If 
God be with us, we shall accomplish all this. We shall 
let our light shine, and so let it shine that men shall see 
our good works, etc. All our dependence, then, is in 
God. Through Him we shall overcome every evil; 
through Him we shall accomplish all the good which He 
has designed. Let us then, brethren, cultivate the spirit 
of prayer and the habit of daily seeking our duty in His 
Word. It is prayer that brings the church directly under 
the full blaze of the sun of righteousness. It is prayer 
that brings down those rays into the heart of the church 
in a vertical direction. It is in the exercise of heartfelt, 
agonizing prayer that the sympathies, feelings and Spirit 
of God are infused into the soul ; and that she is changed 
into His image, from glory to glory. It is at the mercy- 
seat of God that all the graces of thechurch grow fat 
and strong and energetic. It is in answer to prayer that 
the Holy Spirit is sent down. Your Heavenly Father is 
more willing to give His Holy Spirit to those who ask 
Him, etc. 

"Here is the place where the old Christians, Bible in 
hand, acquire the nerve and energy of young men; where 
differences are lost, and where souls, naturally and from 
education alike, are brought into the sweetest and most 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. 117 

delightful fellowship. Here love and mere)' and for- 
giveness reign. 

"In order, then, to cultivate this spirit of prayer, be 
found often in your closets — often before your family 
altars; but in order to realize more fully the blessings 
which are found in prayer, let me entreat you often to 
meet and pray together. And here let me remark, that 
it is of the first importance at such times, to draw out 
the young members of the church in this holy duty. I 
know that there will be weakness, diffidence, and broken- 
ness of language in these eases, just as there are with 
young children when beginning to talk, but the parent 
can understand the little child, so can the brothers and 
sisters: and what delight do the first prattlings of the 
little creatures give to the whole family ! So do the 
broken prayers of the young convert, and of the restored 
prodigal, delight the heart of the Father of mercies, and 
those of His children. And if this habit is not formed 
with the young Christians, it will probably never be ; but 
if it be formed then, it will continue through life. Thus, 
take those members of our church who commenced taking 
a part in prayer and exhortation, when they began the 
service of God, and who were encouraged thus to do, 
during the infancy of their religious life, and you will 
find them ready to stand in their lot now; but how few 
who did not engage in these duties then are prepared to 
do it now. Think for a moment of the edification and 
comfort to be found in a church, where every brother is 
prepared to speak and pray. That is a happy church 
where fervent prayer is cultivated, and the happiest when 
there is the most prayer. That is a united church where 
prayer prevails, and the most harmonious where there is 
the most prayer. But the Word of God and its diligent 
pfndy, connected with prayer, prepares the heart to feel 
right. The study of God's Word prepares the 
soiil to know what is right. The study of 
God's Word prepares the heart for prayer, and 
prayer prepares the mind for the study of God's 



118 History of Texas Baptists. 

Word. A church composed of students of the Bible 
and suppliants at the throne of grace will grow in 
every Christian grace; they will know more and more 
of Christ and duty; they will reflect the image of Christ 
upon those around them. Such a church will be united; 
such a church will be an unhappy place for deceivers, or 
deceived persons ; such i church God will bless ; with such 
a church the Holy Spirit will take up His abode. Let 
the habit of cultivating a fervent spirit of prayer be 
maintained by you. connected with that of the diligent 
study of God's Word, then God will be with you. as truly 
as He was with His ancient people. 

"And if God is with you. you will answer His design. 
Let me also entreat you to maintain the habit of great 
watchfulness over one another. Watch over one another 
for good; and particularly is this important with the 
young members of the church. How often might a 
brother or sister be saved from a protracted course of 
backsliding by a few tender admonitions, a little kind- 
ness, and a little judicious instruction. But in order to 
know when to give this instruction and admonition, you 
must watch over one another: — keep the most constant 
care over one another, this will save them from 
apostasy ; this course will also lead to most important dis- 
coveries. By maintaining this spirit of prayer and the 
study of G~d*s Word, and this constant care over one 
another, you will know the mind of the Spirit with refer- 
ence to your brethren; you will be enabled to draw out 
those gifts of the church which might otherwise be con- 
cealed ; you may be enabled to know whom God has 
called to preach the Gospel, and to draw them out and 
lead them into the field. But no less essential is a spirit 
of forbearance. We have all our peculiar sins, peculiar 
weaknesses, prejudices and errors — no Christian is per- 
fect ; yet all of us have our own standard, and the general 
feeling is that all others are wrong, and we right. But. 
brethren, we must not be thus: there are many thing? 
which we must bear one with another. We must overlook 



The First Baptist Association in Texas. 119 

a great deal, forgive a great deal, and bear a great deal 
as burdens. This is what Christ has to do with us. We 
must thus forbear, or our union and usefulness will be 
broken. 

"Let us be very careful in admitting members to our 
churches. A real Christian cannot be injured by being 
kept out of church for a few weeks — he will not love the 
church the less ; but a deceived individual, or a hypocrite 
may be, and will be, a great injury to the church. 
Brethren, be careful, I entreat you, about receiving mem- 
bers. Israel could not be blessed while an Achan was 
in the camp ; neither can the church of Christ be blessed 
with ungodly men in them. Be on your guard against 
men who profess to be ministers of Christ. Satisfy your- 
selves that such are the ministers of Christ, then receive 
them. But if any come who cannot give the most sat- 
isfactory evidence that he is the minister of Jesus, re- 
ceive him not — know him not. Lay hands suddenly on 
no man. 

"Finally, brethren, seek to be such a people as God 
will bless, and strive for the attainment of the great ob- 
jects of your high calling. And may the Spirit of God 
keep you and preserve you from all evil, and at last pre- 
sent you spotless and blameless at His own right hand. 
"In the Gospel of Jesus, 

"James Huckins." 



CHAPTEE XII. 

THE BAPTIST EDUCATION SOCIETY. — FROM ITS ORGANI- 
ZATION IX 1841, TO ITS DISAPPEAR- 
ANCE in 18C 

As this society was such an important factor in devel- 
oping th- _ lucatk oal enterprises of Texas and 
Texas Baptists, and in view of the vast influence it ex- 
erted over the entire denomination of the State in shap- 
ing the whole history, a special sketch seems proper here. 
In the previous chapter it was shown that, at the instance 
of W. M. Tryon, a resolution was adopted at the second 
session at Union Association in 1841, recommending the 
nization of an Education Society, a preliminary or- 
ganization being effected at that time. Tryon exerted 
powers in preparing the way for more definite 
n at the nex -- n of the Association, to meet 
in 1842. The invasion of the country by the Mexican 
army so demoralized conditions and distracted the coun- 
try, however, that this body did not meet according to 
adjournment. 

At the ——ion of 1843, at Providence church, in 
shington county, the Texas Baptist Education Soci- 
ety was fully organized, with E. E. B. Baylor President; 
S. P. Andrews. Recording Secretary: Win. M. Tryon, 
Corresponding Secretary, and W. J. Collins, Treasurer. 
A Board of Man ._ 3 was appointed as follows: James 
Huckins. Z. X. Morrell, J. L. Farquahar, Gail Borden, 

(120) 



By B. F. Fuller. 121 

Stephen Williams, W. H. Ewing, and J. L. Lester. The 
society kept up its work and held its annual meetings, but 
the reports do not appear in the minutes of the Associa- 
tion till 1847. But from other sources, it appears that 
in 1845, the great work of this society, and the abundant 
reward of its labors, culminated in the founding of Bay- 
lor University. The charter was prepared by Tryon and 
Baylor, and when it was presented to the society for ap- 
proval, the name was blank. Judge Baylor moved that 
this blank be filled with the name of Tryon; but Tryon 
suggested reasons why this would be improper, saying 
that he had been so intimately connected with the en- 
terprise, and had urged its claims so often and so per- 
sistently, that he feared it might be charged that he had 
been thus working for his own honor, seeking to perpet- 
uate his name. By a vote of the society, the blank was 
finally filled with the name of Baylor ; and in this form, 
the charter was forwarded to the Congress of the Bepub- 
lic, and passed by that body and approved by President 
Anson Jones on the first day of February, 1845, under 
the name ''Baylor University.'' The charter provided 
for fifteen trustees, and that when any vacancy shall oc- 
cur by death, resignation or otherwise, such vacancy 
shall be filled by the Texas Baptist Education Society. 
Thus, through the influence and labors of this society, 
this greatest of Baptist educational enterprises in Texas 
was founded, and became a great beacon light in Chris- 
tian education, spreading its influence over the entire 
State. 

The society did not, by any means, consider its work 
done; but continued to hold annual meetings; and al- 
though the general work of education was in the bauds 



122 History of Texas Baptists. 

of the University, srill the society ceased not to plead the 
cause of ministerial education, and to seek out from 
among the churches, young men that felt moved by the 
Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel, and place them in the 
University j and at the same time promptly meeting their 
expenses. All that was required of these beneficiaries, 
was that their churches approve them, and that their 
gifts be evident. 

At all its annual meetings, which were always held 
with the Union Association, great enthusiasm prevailed. 
Many strong and faithful friends rallied around it. They 
upheld it with their prayers and their contributions. For 
a number of years, the minutes of the society were only 
partially preserved; but we find that at the meeting in 
J.847, with the Association at Houston, the society re- 
ceived $305.50. At this session, on motion of Elder Jas. 
Huckins, the following resolutions were adopted: 

'"Resolved, First. That in view of the great destitu- 
tion of ministers it becomes the duty of the church to 
pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers. 

"Second. That we must rely more upon our own re- 
sources to supply the destitution of ministers in this 
State. 

'"Third. That a vigorous and systematic effort bp 
made to assist young men of piety and promise in their 
preparation for the ministry. 

"Fourth. That we recommend Baylor University as 
a suitable institution to carry out the designs of this 
society.*' 

The officers elected at this meeting were H. L. Graves. 
President: W. M. Trvon. Corresponding Secretary, and 
Jesse G. Thomas, Recording Secretary. At the meeting 



By B.F. Fuller. 123 

in 1849. at Huntsville, the following resolution was 
adopted : 

.solved, That the education of the rising ministry 
subject of vital importance, and should be near the 
heart of every Baptist in Texas 

This resolution was adopted amid great enthusiasm. 
In IS 50, at the meeting at Providence church, they re- 
solved, Thai this society has unlimited confidence in 
the objects to which it is devoted, ar.d commends the 
education of the ministry to the prayers and liberality of 
our brethren and friends throughout the country."* 

The officers at this time were the same as last meet- 
ing, except Daniel Witt was made Corresponding Secre- 
tary. In 1851, the society met at Washington and elected 
Hosea Garrett President, and K. C. Burleson Corres- 
ponding Secretary. From this time till 1857, the records 
of the work of the society are very meager, but it is ap- 
parent that several young ministers were sustained at the 
University, luring this period, that afterwards became 
shining lights in Texas. 

The treasurer's report for this year showed $5S^ .74 
on hand, and it was ordered that, the money be held 
subject to the order of the Board of Directors of the 
Baptist State Convention, to be applied to the support 
of the beneficiaries of that Board. In 185S the treasurer 
reported $691.84 on hand, and a like order was made as 
in the previous year, to pay the same over to the treas- 
urer of the Stare Convention. In 1S59 Graves was not 
present, and Elder M. Ross was made President. 

:ar, no further reference is made in the 
minutes of Union Association to the Education Society. 
In 1848 the Baptist State Convention was organized, and 



124 History of Texas Bapiis:s. 

in 1S49 the power to fill vacancies in the Board of Trus- 
tees of Baylor University, by mutual consent was trans- 
ferred from the Education Society to the Convention, 
and the charter was accordingly amended to that effect. 
The Stat invention took a very decided interest in the 
Uni *nd especially in ministerial education. 

re were able reports from committees on this subject 
at each annnal meeting, and the Convention finally occu- 
pied the whole Held, assuming the work of the Educa- 
tion S :: But the society continued to collect funds 
and pay over to the treasurer of the Convention till 1 
The mission of this grand pioneer enterpri- : chris- 
tian education seemed now to be accomplished. 

left for it to do. and the 
tion Society closed irs books, paid all its funds ov^r 10 
the Convention Board, and ''quietly dropped out of ob- 
servation." But the grand results of the work done by 
this consecrated body of Christian workers has been seen 
and felt, and is still recognized throughout th - 

Jan. s H ^:ribling. the first of the young mir 
receiving the benefits of this society, entered B 
University under its auspices, in 1346, and devoted him- 
self ear: his books till 1849, when he was or- 
dained and set apart to the full work of the mini- 

hen entered upon the life of a consecrated 

Baptist preacher, and almost the whole State £Jt the 
power of his ministry. 

D. B. -UorreJl, another beneficiary, was placed in the 
ty by the society in 1843, and in December, l c 

•rdained by a presbvtery composed of G. W. Bai 
T \& -:. R E. B. Baylor, H. L. Graves, and .7 

reatfa. The society rejoiced sgain in another br 




J- H. STRIBLIXG. 



By B. F. Fuller. 1*5 

star in the galaxy of Baptist ministers in Texas. T\for- 
rell wielded an extensive influence for good, and his 
power was felt wherever he went. 

For want of space, we cannot further record the long 
list of beneficiaries this society has sent out to bless the 
people and the churches. Coming into existence amid the 
hardships, struggles and dangers of pioneer life, it was 
imbued with the spirit of the times, and shared in the 
growth of the Republic, and its work was part and par- 
cel of the glory. After two score years of splendid and 
conspicuous toil, this famous society sank into the econ- 
omy of Baptist -organized enterprises, as the great sun, 
that has warmed the earth with his rays, sinks behind the 
brilliant western horizon. It was beclouded and hidden 
from view only by the threatening darkness of the ap- 
proaching Civil War. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST ASSOC! 

ATIOX IX TEXAS IX 1S40, TO THE IXVASIOX 

BY THE MEXICAN GEXERAL, WOOL, 

IX SEPTEMBER, 1842. 

During this period, Morrell spent most of his time 
preaching between the Brazos and Colorado, making his 
home at Gonzales, where he organized a church. Huck- 
ins was active in his missionary labors at Galveston and 
Houston, and organized a church at each of these places. 

Baylor was at La Grange, and was District Judge of 
that district, including a large number of counties, and 
wherever he held court, he preached throughout his dis- 
trict, holding court during the day, and preaching in the 
same room at night. In 1841, during the session of his 
court at Washington, the regular time for the church- 
meeting and preaching of that organization came on, 
and Trvon, the pastor, being confined at home by sick- 
ness. Judge Baylor preached, and such an unusual dem- 
onstration followed that the meeting was continued two 
weeks, and the entire community was stirred, and there 
was a great revival. Almost every night, by the beau- 
tiful light of the moon, many converts were baptized in 
the Brazos by Judge Baylor. 

Tryon, whose home was in Washington county, was 
zealously engaged in his mission work in Washington 
and Burleson counties, organizing the Second church at 

(126) 



By B.F. Fuller. 127 

Washington; also Chapel Hill and Providence churches, 
being at the same time pastor at Independence. 

Elder Hosea Garrett and 0. H. P. Garrett came to 
Texas in February 1842, and settled in Washington 
county, near Chapel Hill, preaching in the surrounding 
country. In the East, Isaac Peed was preaching to 
Union church and Nacogdoches, and was doing what he 
could in that section. In that part of the country, the 
anti-mission spirit manifested by the preachers had a 
depressing influence on the work of the Baptists. This 
same anti-mission influence came near wrecking Union 
Association in 18-11, as we have already seen. Elder 
Leonard Herrin came to Texas in 1841, and settled in 
Harrison county, entering zealously into the work, but 
the religious development of Eastern Texas was greatly 
retarded, and society in general much disturbed by the 
peculiar conditions affecting that section. While they 
were not disturbed by Mexican invasions and Indian 
raids, as was the West, yet the close vicinity of the neutral 
grounds, bordering the line between the United States 
and Texas on the Sabine, not subject to any government, 
brought society into close contact with the refugees from 
justice, and desperadoes that infested this neutral terri- 
tory. They were sworn enemies to morality and relig- 
ion. The condition of this section of the country dur- 
ing this period was desperate. Anarchy reigned and* 
ruled. A party of citizens arose, calling themselves Reg- 
ulators, avowing their intention to check this lawlessness ; 
but they themselves became so lawless that another body 
of men was soon organized to check the first party. They 
called themselves Moderators. Between these two, the 
situation was indeed deplorable. It was hardly possible 



128 History of Texas Baptists. 

for a man to live without taking sides with one or the 
other of these two parties. This condition of affairs con- 
tinued till 18-14, when, through the influence of Gen. 
Houston, there was a compromise effected, and both par- 
ties laid down their arms. It is not strange that amid 
such bitterness and strife. Christianity was well-nigh 
crushed out. During this period in the West, we find 
some strong, vigorous preachers coming to the front. 

Richard Ellis and X. T. Byars were ordained to the 
full work of the ministry, and threw their whole souls 
into the work. But the progress of Baptists during this 
period was not very apparent. In 1841, Gen. Houston 
was elected President of the Bepublic for the second 
time. He pacified the Indians, and insisted on retrench- 
ment. The currency was improved, which revived the 
confidence of the people to some extent, but discourage- 
ments were still very great. On Saturday before the first 
Sunday in March. 1842, the little church at Gonzales met 
in regular conference, and two joined by letter; Brother 
Morrell's son James, IT years old, presented himself and 
was received for baptism, which was the first applicant 
for baptism on the Gaudalupe. It was announced that 
the baptism would take place at 10 o'clock on Sunday 
morning, but late Saturday evening messengers arrived 
with the intelligence that a Mexican army had invaded 
Texas and captured San Antonio, and were advancing 
East. This threw everything into utter confusion, and 
instead of a baptism Sunday morning, there was wild 
rushing to and fro and a confused stampede towards the 
East. In a few days, however, it was learned that the 
Mexicans had retreated, and left the country. After this 
excitement, there was comparative quiet and peace 



By B. F. Fuller. 129 

through the remainder of the spring and summer. The 
ministers and churches were beginning to get their work 
under headway. Hope began to revive, and our brethren 
were lifting their hearts to God for preservation from the 
barbarous Indians and Mexicans, and were laying out 
work for vigorous missionary labors during the fall and 
winter, when, on the 13 th of September, a courier on a 
fleet horse arrived at Colonel Caldwell's with the follow- 
ing message: 

"Colonel: Gen. Wool has arrived at San Antonio 
with 1,300 men. The court, judge, jury, lawyers and 
many citizens in attendance are prisoners in the hands 
of the Mexicans. John W. Smith/'' 



CHAPTER XIV. 

FRO}! WOOL'S INVASION, SEPTEMBER, 1842, TO THE 

FOUNDING OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, 

FEBRUARY 1 , 1845. 

The message given in the preceding chapter flew in 
every direction, and there again were hurryings to and 
fro. and the wildest consternation. The women and chil- 
dren fled towards the East, but the heroic men turned 
West and made hasty preparation to meet the invader. 
Morrell was in the Gaudalup? after some corn for his 
family, who were then on the Colorado, fifty miles away, 
where they had fled from the invasion in the spring. His 
family needed him at home; he was a cripple and not in 
good health, but his country was in imminent peril, and, 
noble patriot that he was. he sent his son home with the 
wagon of corn, and attached himself to Colonel Cald- 
well, and did gallant service against the common foe. 
Judge Baylor, also, laid aside his law books and came 
down off the judge's bench, volunteered his services, and 
hastened to the front. Colonel Caldwell, Jack Hays, and 
Ben MeCulloueh hastily collected what force they could, 
to meet the Mexican army. With about two hundred 
men they advanced toward San Antonio, and a bloody 
battle ensued at the Salado, six miles east of that place. 
Gen. Wool retreated, and the Texans. having received 
that night reinforcements that swelled their force to five 
hundred, a vigorous pursuit was commenced by early 

(130) 



By B. F. Fuller. 131 

morning, and Gen. Wool was overtaken at the Hondu, 26 
miles west of San Antonio. There another victory was 
won by the Texas troops, but Wool's main army made 
good their retreat across the Rio Grande. During the 
battle at the Salado, Captain Dawson and fifty young 
men and boys from La Grange,, while hastening to the 
support of our forces, were cut off by the Mexicans and 
surrounded. They defended themselves with unsurpassed 
heroism, till all but 15 lay dead on the field, among 
whom was Captain Dawson, who was cut down with the 
flag in his hand. The fifteen survivors, including A. H. 
Morrell, Z. X. Morrell's oldest son. were led away pris- 
oners to Mexican dungeons. 

This massacre of these brave boys was one of the sad- 
dest trials to our poor soldiers. It took place within 
hearing and almost within sight of Morrell and other de- 
voted fathers, who were defending their own position in 
the bed of Salado creek. They knew their sons were 
there being butchered, but they had no power to assist 
them. 

As soon as it was known that General Wool had re- 
treated, those anxious fathers hurried out- to learn the 
sad fate of their sons. 

This was the last Mexican invasion. Gen. Houston's 
policy so pacified the Indians and improved the currency 
that there soon appeared a silver lining to the dark 
clouds that had hung, lowering over the heads of our 
heroic fathers. 

As the din ol battle died away, the silvery notes of 
the Gospel were heard. The Mexican invasion had de- 
feated the meeting of Union Association, but late in that 
year Morrell. Tryon. Bavlor. and a few others, held a 



132 History of Texas Baptists. 

conference and called a meeting of the Association at Mt. 
Gilead, in Washington county. Twelve churches sent 
messengers, and three new churches were received to fel- 
lowship. In the distractd condition of the country, 
much less of prosperity was shown by the letters, than in 
the previous year. In the East, the advancement of the 
Baptists was not very apparent. Brethren Reed, Herrin 
and Asa Wright were preaching with zeal, but up to the 
beginning of 18-13, the old Union church was the only 
Baptist church in the Eastern part of the Republic. 

Early in 1843, Mt. Zion, in Xacogdoches county; Bor- 
den and Bethel, in Harrison county, and Bethel in Sabine 
county, were organized. In Xovember of that year, these 
churches united with Union church in sending messen- 
gers to meet with the last named church, for the purpose 
or organizing an association, and from this effort Sabine 
Baptist Association was organized. Elders Reed, Herrin 
and Asa Wright took active part in this organization. 

The minutes for 1846 show a membership of 300, and 
Isaac Reed was the Moderator. 

The bitter opposition to all forms of mission work 
on the part of Reed and others, and, on the other hand, 
the zealous advocacy of missions by Herrin and others, 
produced serious dissensions in the Association. The ex- 
treme ideas of Antinomianism were pressed so persistent- 
ly, that it drove some to the opposite extreme, which re- 
sulted in the dissolution of the Association in 1847. 

The Anti-mission, or Predestinarian Baptists organ- 
ized an association in 1844, at Antioch church, in Jas- 
per county, with messengers from five churches — Anti- 
och, in Louisiana, and Salem, Harmony, Mt. Olivet 
and Antioch in Texas. They styled their Association 



By B. F. Fuller. 133 

"The Louisiana and Texas Regular Predestinarian Bap- 
tist Association.'' Levi A. Durham was their first 
Moderator. 

They opposed all secret societies, benevolent organiza- 
tions and missionary boards. The 11th Article of the 
Constitution of this body was as follows : "Having for 
years past viewed the distress that the following institu- 
tions or societies have brought upon the churches ; that is, 
to say Missionary Effort Societies, Bible, Baptist State 
Conventions ; Temperance, Sunday-school Unions ; Tract, 
Ministerial Education Societies; and in a word, all the 
human combinations and societies of the day, set up in 
order to advance the Redeemer's kingdom, as inimical to 
the peace of Zion, and calculated in their nature to 
cause schism, we therefore declare non-fellowship with 
all such/' 

In 1850 this Association reported six churches and a 
total membership of 73. In 1854, the same number of 
churches appears, with a smaller membership. We find no 
trace of this Association later than this date. The be- 
numbing influence of these doctrines evidently greatly 
hindered the prosperity of Baptist churches in Eastern 
Texas. 

MIDDLE TEXAS. 

By 1844, everything was wearing a brighter aspect. 
Immigrants were flocking to the country, among whom 
were many devoted Baptists, and the encouragement to 
our brethren was plainly visible. Up to this time, Middle 
Texas, between the Brazos and Trinity rivers, had shown 
but little religious vitality. Morrell, however, was trying 



134 History of Texas Baptists. 

to keep up regular preaching at Huntsville and at An- 
derson, but he encountered great opposition, especially 
at Huntsville, where the tough, disorderly element was so 
defiant that religious services were interrupted to such 
an extent that it was almost impossible to have preaching. 

Added to this embarrassment. Elder James Parker, 
brother of the somewhat noted Daniel Parker, of "two 
seed" fame, was preaching in the vicinity, and laboring to 
organize upon principles opposed to mission work. He 
was using all the powc - eloquence in opposition to 

Morrell, McClenny and others, who were trying to or- 
ganize a church on correct principles. The victory was 
finally won by Morrell and his followers. 

In September, 1S44, the church at Huntsville was 
organized by Morrell and Elder Thomas Horsely, upon 
the same principles as set forth in the Constitution and 
Articles of Faith of Union Association, but adding the 
clause, "That being a member of any benevolent insti- 
tution shall be no bar to fellowship." This church was 
prosperous from the beginning, and has enjoyed the pas- 
toral care of several of the strongest ministers of the 
State. Z. X. Morrell. J.W. D. Creath, G. W. Baines, S. G. 
O'Bryan, and others not less eminent, have occupied that 
pulpit. Regular monthly preaching had been kept up 
for some time at a little school house, four miles from 
the present location of the town of Anderson, and in No- 
vember, 1844, Anderson church was organized by Mor- 
rell and Horsely at this place, on seven members. The 
church was afterwards moved to Anderson. Post Oak 
Grove church was also organized by Morrell and Tryon 
in November, 1S44. about seven miles west of the town 
of Montgomery, on six members. During 1S44 and 



By B. F. Fuller. 135 

1845, these pioneer churches in Middle Texas enjoyed 
great prosperity and peace. 

NOBXH TEXAS. 

Even before Austin's colony was laid out. settlements 
were made in the section of country on Red river, in that 
part which afterwards became Bed Etver county. -At 
the mouth of Pecan Bayou, and up and down the river 
for many miles, including Jonesboro and vicinity, the 
country had a strong settlement as early as 1816. After 
Austin* s colony was opened, many of his colonists stopped 
at this settlement on Red river, and rested a year, mak- 
ing a crop before going on to the colony. There were 
Methodist preachers there in 1816, and a Methodist so- 
ciety was organized near Jonesboro in 181 7. The Bap- 
tist preacher, Freeman Smalley. preached in that settle- 
ment near this date. With all our research, however, we 
have been unable to find a well-authenticated account 
of any other Baptist preacher or a Baptist church in this 

ion till 1842. 

This settlement being separated from the settlements 
of Eastern and Western Texas by such an extensive scope 
of unoccupied territory, the Spanish jurisdiction and the 
Catholic influence were never extended over it, and there 
was perfect religious liberty. 

Willis M. Pickett came from Kentucky in 1842 
and settled near Clarksville. in Red River county. He 
had not been ordained to the ministry at that time, al- 
though he had been preaching for a year or two. Soon 
after his arrival, he was found bv the indefatigable X. T. 



136 History of Texas Baptists. 

Byars, in his missionary tours, and was called out, being 
ordained by him and Elder Benjamin Clark in lt>43. 

:he first Baptist church organized in 

N rth Texas. Before Pickett was ordained, he and a few 

others had organized Concord Baptist chorch, situated 

about eight miles Xorth-east from Clarksville, in Bed 

r county. This Lb the oldest Baptist church in Xorth 

was organized in the first part of 1843, on 

d members, namely: Willis It Pickett and wife, 
B. F. Giddens and wife. Solomon Bryant and wife, and 
one other. Pickett preached to the church as a licentiate, 
until his ordination, a few months afterwards. 

For this purpose, the church called a presbytery, 
composed of Elders X. T. Byars and Benjamin Clark. 
rtt then became the pastor, and so continued for 
many years. Brother Pickett became a very active, con- 
secrated minister, and many of the leading churches in 
Xorth Texas were organized by him. Concord has al- 
: ionization, been a prosperous and in- 
fluential church. 

In the fall of 1844, Anson Jones was elected I 
dent of the Bepublic to succeed Gen. Sam Houston, who 
surrendered the government to him on the 9 th day of De- 
cember. 1S44. In retiring. Gen. Houston said: "I leave 
the country tranquil at home, and at peace with all na- 
tions, except Mexico, which still maintains the attitude 
of nominal hostility." and adds. "I see and know that the 
prospects of the Bepublic are brightening: its resources 
develop:: mmerce extending, and its moral influ- 

ence incr 

Everything now seemed bright and prosperous. The 
Baptists of 7 re reaching out in even* direction, 



By B. F. Fuller. 137 

and, among other interests, were grappling with the great 
educational problems of our country. On the 1st day of 
February, 1845, Baylor University was chartered, and 
afterwards located at Independence, in Washington 
county. 



CHAPTER XV. 

FROM THE FOUNDING OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, FEBRUARY 

1, 1845, TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 

BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION, 

SEPTEMBER 9, 1848. 

Gen. Houston had now concluded his second term as 
President, and the Republic, greatly improved during his 
administration, was surrendered to his successor, Anson 
Jones. All the affairs of Texas bore evident marks of 
wise statesmanship. Prosperity in the churches as well 
as the State, was manifest everywhere. 

On the 28th day of February, 1845, the Congress 
of the United States passed a joint resolution, proposing 
the annexation of Texas. On March the 5th, President 
Jones issued a proclamation for the election of a con- 
vention to consider the proposition. The convention as- 
sembled on the 4th day of July, 1845, and adopted a 
resolution in favor of annexation, framing a State Con- 
stitution, which, together with the question of annexation, 
was submitted to a vote of the people on the 15th day 
of the following October. Both carried by an almost 
unanimous vote. On December 29th, 1845, President 
Polk approved a joint resolution of Congress to admit 
Texas into the Union, and on the 19th day of February, 
1846, President Jones surrendered the executive authority 
of Texas to J. P. Henderson, who had been elected Gov- 

(138) 



By B. F. Fuller. 139 

ernor of the State of Texas, and who was a very brilliant 
and accomplished man. 

A nation was lost, but a great State was gained. In 
the language of Bancroft, "The Lone Star of Texas sank 
below the horizon to rise again amidst a constellation of 
unapproachable splendor/' 

Xew life was apparent in all the interests of Texas. 
The churches took on renewed vigor and activity. A 
fresh impetus was given to the cause of education in the 
great Baptist brotherhood of Texas. The burning desire 
to found a great school now began to take definite shape. 

Baylor University. — This pioneer institution of 
learning was chartered by the Congress of Texas Febru- 
ary 1st, 1845, and provided for fifteen trustees. Their 
names as inserted in the charter were as follows : R. E. 
B. Baylor, J. G. Thomas, A. G. Haynes, A. C. Horton, J. 
L. Lester, R. B. Jarman, James Huckins, Nelson Kava- 
naugh, 0. Drake, Eli Mercer, Aaron Shannon, James 
L. Farquahar, Robert S. Armstead, Wm. M. Tryon, and 
E. W. Taylor. The charter provided for a "preparatory 
department/' and a "female department." The trustees 
met at Brenham, May 15th, and organized the board tem- 
porarily, by electing Baylor temporary President, and 
Taylor, Secretary. They adjourned to meet at Mt. Gil- 
ead church on the 13th day of October. At this meeting, 
Ji dge Baylor being absent, Hosea Garrett was made 
President, and on motion, it was agreed to receive pro- 
posals for the location of the University. Propositions 
were presented from Travis, Huntsville, Shannon's Prai- 
rie and Independence. On a vote, Independence was se- 
lected. The value of the property tendered by this place 
was estimated to be $7,925. Permanent organization 



140 History of Tea Baptists. 

effected by electing Win. M. Tryon President : 1 
Taylor, Secretary . Havocs, Treasurer, 

committees were appointed, one on collections, and one 
on building, and the board adjourned to meet at Inde- 
pendence in December. 

December meeting, a building site w; 
lected on Allen Hill, a beautiful elevation in the town 
of Independence. The Board of Trustees then adjourned 
to meet in Independence January 12th. 1846. A 
January meeting, Henry L. vlected I 

dent of the Un: ind H. I. Gillett was elected 

her of the Preparatory Department, teaching to be- 
gin as soon as the academy building could be fitted up. 
They determine" the college building should 

be of stone, and the building committee was directed to 
begin the work at once. The board appointed Richard 
ss til SI I lor andTryon to solicit 

funds, not only in Texas, but bcr The 

v of Mr. Gillett. teacher of the Preparatory De- 
partment, was fixed at $800, and he opened the school 
May - 1846. At a meeting of the board on the 4th day 
. of Febn: ay, 184 resolved that President Graves 

1 enter immediately upon his duties, and that James H. 
8< -ling be admitted to the University, free of tuition, 
as requested by the Education Society. In 18 
Burleson was requested to act as agent for the Univer- 
fco collect funds in Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and 
ibama. 

The board, having fixed April 14 as the date for the 
annual meetings, met in 1S47 on that date, and re-elect- 
ed all the old officer?. The primary school had opened 
with twenty pupils, which inc r seventy. 




REV. J. W. D. CREATH. 



By B. F. Fuller. 141 

The Education Society appointed T. L. Jackson trus- 
tee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the beloved 
Wm. M. Tryon, who had died of yellow fever in Hous- 
ton, November 16, 1847. Rev. James Huckins was ap- 
pointed agent of the University at a salary of one thou- 
sand dollars per year and traveling expenses. 

At a meeting of the board June 1, 1848, the entire 
management of the University was given to President 
Graves for two years, on condition that he accept the 
tuition fees for his compensation. 

On the resignation of E. AY. Taylor, J. W. D. Creath 
was appointed by the Education Society as trustee to fill 
the vacancy. The board, at this meeting, determined 
upon erecting a two-story stone building thirty by fifty 
feet. They also adopted resolutions of respect to the 
memory of Wm. M: Tryon, deceased, former President 
of the Board. With such efficient management and able 
agents in the field, the success of the school seemed to be 
now assured. 

MISSIONARY WORK. 

In 1846, Morrell was commissioned by the Mission 
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as missionary 
for that part of the country between the Trinity and Bra- 
zos, lying above the old San Antonio road. This board, 
during the same year, sent to Texas as missionaries J. W. 
D. Creath, P. B. Chandler, and also Xoah Hill, whose 
field of labor was within Union Association's bounds, and 
in Middle Texas. Creath went to Huntsville . Chandler 
to La Grange, and Hill to Matagorda. The valuable la- 
bors of these missionaries, added to the noble band of 



142 History of Texas Baptists. 

lists already on the field, gave great strength and pros- 
peri: :; the eaase. Alorrell organized a church at Le- 
ona, and one at Springfield, and extended his labors north 
is far as Xavarro count}", co-operating with Byars, who 
:hen living on Bichland creek in that county.. Bay- 
lor was serving as District Judge in that part of the St 
and added his e very way that he 

could. Morrell arranged to have his appointments in the 
towns where Baylor was holding court, and during the 
ns, they would preach together on Sundays, and at 
night during the week. Baylor's Christian influence in 
social life and with the legal profession, was greatly ben- 
eficial to the cause of religion. 

But the work f;: in those days was not all 

done by preachers. 

Deacox Jaime? Pruitt, member of Providence 
church in Burleson county, _ power in the 

Baptist churches in fch :i. and a strong support to 

Christianity. He was one of God's greatest gifts to T _- 
plain, uneducated man, and of humble habit 
and retiring maner. Of simple, rustic speech, yet when 
he talked to sinners, under the influence of tL- S] 
the magic of his wore 1 to have been wonderful. 

Great revivals sometimes resulted from his prayer-meet- 
gs, unaided by any minister. His melting tender. 38. 
simple, child-like fait! in prayer and wonder- 

ful exhortation melted all hear Sc s, "hen the 

ever-earnest appe; rrell and the eloquence of Bay- 

lor failed to impress the audience, Pruitfs matchless ex- 
hortation moved and captivated all. 

Bldeb Xoah Hill was a tower of strength in this 
period of our history. He was sound in doctrine, and 



By B. F. Fuller, 143 

pressed his conclusions with great power, and large num- 
bers repented under his appeals. 

P. H. Chandler, at La Grange, was wielding a benign 
influence and maintaining a strong hold on the affections 
of the people. His ministrations were very valuable to 
his churches, whose confidence he always enjoyed. 

With Huckins at Galveston; Tryon at Houston; 
Hosea Garrett in Washington, uniting their labors with 
those of other zealous Christian workers, the outlook for 
Texas Baptists in the early part of 1847 was very cheer- 
ing in the West. 

COLORADO ASSOCIATION. 

In November, 1847, this Association was organized at 
Eocky Creek church, in Lavaca county, with messengers 
from nine other churches, having a membership of one 
hundred and nineteen, and Richard Ellis was made Mod- 
erator. 

Rev R. H. Taliaferro. — This able minister came to 
Texas in 1847, as a missionary, and settled in Austin, 
where he became a brilliant light on the Colorado. He 
is said to have been a man of great power and eloquence 
in the pulpit. Morrell styles him the "Apollos of the 
Texas churches." One writer says of him: "No purer, 
abler, more devoted, self-sacrificing minister of the New 
Testament ever lived in Texas. The number of sermons 
he preached, the number of persons he baptized, and the 
number of converts under his ministry must be counted 
by thousands." 



144 History of Texas Baptists. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF AUSTIN. 

This church was constituted in 1S4T, by Rev. R. H. 
Taliaferro, who had but recently settled at that place. In 
the organization there were seven constituent members, 
as follows: R. H. Taliaferro. W. R. Burdett and wife, 
Charles Walker and wife. Mrs. Jane Grooms, and Alfred 
Grooms. Alfred Grooms was elected elerk.and Dr. Talia- 
ferro preached to the church until he was called to Gal- 
veston in the next year. He afterwards returned to Aus- 
tin, and was for many years pastor of this church. 

In the midst of rejoicing in the great prosperity of the 
churches, and the glorious success of the Gospel, a message 
from the city of Houston brought universal sorrow. The 
'^beloved Tryon v had been stricken down with yellow fe- 
ver. While a protracted meeting was in progress in his 
church at Houston, the yellow fever broke out in that city. 
The meeting closed, still he did not leave his post of duty, 
but devoted all his time and energies to the sick and 
dying, tenderly nursing the one and earnestly pointing 
the other to the consolation of trust in Christ, until he 
himself was prostrated by this dreadful malady. He suf- 
fered but a few days. On the 16th day of Xovember, 
1847, in the prime of life, in the midst of great useful- 
ness, and in the full triumphs of the Christian's hope, he 
died at his post. As an orator. Wm. Iff. Tryon had no 
equal in Texas ; as a friend and promoter of education, he 
was the greatest power in the State at that time, and 
results of his wisdom and labor still survive. His life as 
a man and a Christian was a model. He was born to be 
a leader, and led his followers to the river of Life. 

The church at Houston was without a pastor only a 



By B. F. Fuller. 145 

short time. Dr. R. C. Burleson, who afterwards became 
the great educator of Texas, was sent out as a missionary 
by the Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and 
arrived in Galveston in January following. He had been 
assigned to duty at Gonzales. However, the Mission 
Board of Colorado Association, not being informed of this ; 
appointment, had already filled this position with another \ 
person. This being known at Houston, that church at 
once extended a call to Dr. Burleson, and with the con- 
sent of the Board, he accepted this pastorate, and entered 
upon his duties in February, 1848. 

EAST TEXAS. 

While Baptists in the West enjoyed great peace and 
prosperity during this period, there was trouble in the 
East. The Anti-mission spirit in Sabine Association, 
which, from its organization, had opposed every effort to 
advance mission work, now became dominant. It was so 
prescriptive that all harmony and fellowship were de- 
stroyed, and the Association finally dissolved in 1847. 

THE EASTERN" MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 

On the dissolution of Sabine Association, the mission- 
ary element called a convention, which met with Border 
church in December, 1847, and organized this Eastern 
Missionary Baptist Association, with messengers from 
the following churches: Macedonia, in Panola county; 
Henderson, in Rusk county; Eight-Mile and Border, in 
Harrison county, with Elder Lemuel Herrin Moderator. 
At its second session, the name was changed to Soda Lake 



146 History of Texas Baptists. 

Baptist Association. The four churches that sent mes- 
sengers reported a total membership of seventy-seven. At 
the second session there were eight churches, with a mem- 
bership of one hundred and twenty-five, and so earnest 
and zealous were they in the cause of missions, that nine 
years after the organization, the small beginning had 
grown to thirty-seven churches, with a membership of 
1,630, while the anti-mission element continually de- 
creased. As a result of this anti-mission disturbance, 
there was also organized 

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 

This body was organized at Ayish Bayou church, in 
San Augustine county. This church united with Bethel, 
Milano and Sardis in sending messengers to the organiza- 
tion, and G. W. Slaughter was made Moderator. These 
brethren in shunning one extreme swung as far to the 
other. In avoiding the fatalism of the predestinarians, 
they were stranded on a rock of absolute free will, that 
scarcely left any place for the sovereign grace of God- 
They emphasized free salvation and freedom of the will 
to such an extent that they practiced open communion, 
and rejected the doctrine of final perseverance of the 
saints. They advocated works and instrumentalities so 
zealously that they tended to fanaticism, as will appear 
from the following resolution found in their minutes, as 
adopted by them: "Resolved, that this Association 
recommend to the prayerful consideration of all the 
friends of the Redeemer, that in place of building tents 
out of wood on such occasions, each head of a family make 
a tent of cloth and take their wagon with enough forage 



By B. F. Fuller. 147 

to feed their horses for a few days, and enough of light 
diet to feed their families, and approach the door of the 
sanctuary as the Israelites did the tabernacle. Take God 
at His word, and lay hold of His promises, and see if He 
will not pour you out a blessing that will fill your heart 
with gladness and make you rejoice in place of mourn, 
when you come to press a dying pillow.*' 

Tins organization made but little progress, as "''the 
leader and followers alike possessed zeal without knowl- 
edge,''' and it seems to have lost its identity early in the 
fifties, and is heard of no more. In 1847, the Baptists 
of this portion of the State were greatly encouraged and 
built up by the arrival of Elder Jesse Witt, an able man, 
and inspired fully with the missionary spirit. He came 
as a missionary, under appointment of the Board of the 
Southern Baptist Convention, and settled in San Augus- 
tine county. He arrived on the field at the very time 
when such help as he was able to give was most needed, 
aiding our brethren to stand firm against the tide of anti- 
mission principles. He at once took high ground on this 
subject and did much to develop the mission spirit in 
Texas. 

TRINITY RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 

On Saturday, before the third Sunday in July, 1847, 
messengers from Leona. Society Hill, Springfield, Union 
Hill, Corsicana and Providence churches met at Provi- 
dence, in Xavarro county, with two ministers, Morrell and 
Byars. They then proceeded to organize Trinity Eiver 
Baptist Association. Morrell being made Moderator. This 
body, from its organization, was very active in missionary 



148 History of Texas Baptists. 

work, so much so that at the eighth annual session thirty- 
nine churches were reported. 

The eighth session of Union Association met at Hous- 
ton, September 30, 1847. During this session, the cor- 
responding secretary, H. L. Graves, was instructed to as- 
certain the views and wishes of the churches as to the 
formation of a Baptist State Convention, and a Central 
Committee was appointed to designate the time and place 
for organization if a majority of the churches should 
favor the movement. A majority of the churches gave 
favorable responses, and September 8, 1848, was the time 
appointed for the meeting at Anderson, Grimes county. 

During this period, churches were organized that be- 
came strong and active, and a great power in spreading 
the Gospel. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARSHALL. 

This church was organized in May, 1847, by G. W. 
Baines and John Brice, on twelve members: Dr. Wm. 
Evans, Nancy Evans, Miss Martha Evans, Nelson Tra- 
wick, Mrs. Trawick, James D. Scott, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. F. 
C. Vanzant, and four others, whose names have not been 
preserved. Elder John Brice was chosen pastor. 

TYLER BAPTIST CHURCH. 

On the 8th day of April, 1848, Rev. W. H. Ray and 
W. B. Langston organized this church on six members: 
Stephen Reeves, Miss Georgia Reeves, W. S. Walker, Mrs. 
Amy Walker, Hampton Hudnall and J. G. Adrian. W. 
H. Ray was chosen pastor. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BAPTIST STATE CON- 
VENTION, SEPTEMBER 9, 1848, TO THE ORGANI- 
ZATION OF THE BAPTIST CONVENTION 
OF EASTERN TEXAS, MAY 25, 1855. 

At the beginning of this period there were only four 
District Associations in Texas — Union, Eastern Mission- 
ary, Colorado and Trinity Eiver dissociations. There were 
probably then about thirty-five organized churches. 
Twenty-one churches sent messengers to the meeting at 
Anderson, which, in accordance with previous notice, met 
on the 8th day of September, 1848. There were messen- 
gers from the following churches : Independence, Wash- 
ington, Dove, Providence, in Washington county; Hous- 
ton, Rocky Creek, Post Oak Grove, Antioch. Concord, 
New Year's Creek, Matagorda, Gonzales, Austin, Cuero, 
Bedais, Mt. Gilead, Galveston, Hamilton, Wharton, La- 
Grange and Bethany. The churches known to exist at 
that time, which did not send messengers, were Plum 
Grove, Providence in Burleson county, Anderson. Mar- 
shall, Tyler, Concord in Red River county, and Honey 
Grove, in Fannin county. The committee had appointed 
H. L. Graves to preach the introductory sermon of this 
Anderson meeting, with Xoah Hill as alternate. Both 
were on the ground, but from some cause, when the hour 
for preaching arrived, both declined to preach. The com- 
mittee, in their embarrassment, turned to Morrell, who 
(149) 



150 History of Texas Baptists. 

was known to be as ready with a sermon as he was with his 
rifle in a bear hunt or Indian fight. After Morrell's ser- 
mon, the meeting was called to order by Judge E. E. B. 
Baylor, and the Baptist State Convention was then, on 
September 9th, 1848, organized. They adopted a consti- 
tution and elected H. L. Graves President; J. W. D. 
Creath, Hosea Garrett, and James Huckins, Vice Pres- 
idents; R. C. Burleson, Corresponding Secretary; J. G. 
Thomas Recording Secretary, and J. W. Barnes, Treas- 
urer. 

Committees were appointed on Education, Foreign 
Missions, Home Missions, Finance, and on Publishing a 
Baptist Paper. The report of the last named committee 
strongly urged the great benefits of a denominational pa- 
per, but recommended that it be managed entirely by in- 
dividual enterprise. At the instance of the Committee on 
Foreign Missions, the Convention adopted the following : 

"Resolved, That we highly approve of, and most deep- 
ly sympathize with Foreign Missions, and will assist by 
our humble prayers and incessant efforts." 

The report of the Committee on Education earnestly 
urged the support of Baylor University, and insisted on 
liberal contributions for the benefit of the young minis- 
ters, who were there striving to obtain an education. It 
was agreed that the next session of the Convention be held 
at Houston, beginning Friday before the second Sabbath 
in May, 1849. 

The Corresponding Secretary was required to use all 
diligence to ascertain the number of Baptists and Bap- 
tist churches in this State, and report at next session. 

Second Session. — Only a few messengers attended 
this meeting on account of the prevalence of cholera in 



By B. F. Fuller. 151 

Houston. Creath was made President, Huckins, Davis, 
and Baylor, Vice Presidents ; R. C. Burleson, Correspond- 
ing Secretary ; R. C. Blount, Recording Secretary, and J. 
W. Baines, Treasurer. The Corresponding Secretary re- 
ported the names of twenty-nine Baptist ministers in the 
State, of whom twenty were regular pastors; but the 
number of Baptists and Baptist churches was not given. 
Huntsville was designated as the place for the meeting of 
the next session in May, 1850. 

Third Session. — The attendance at this meeting was 
also small, only fourteen churches sending messengers. 
II. L. Graves was made President, and Burleson was con- 
tinued Corresponding Secretary. At this session, a very 
important move was made in the direction of securing a 
correct history of the Baptists. J. W. D. Creath was 
appointed to collect historical facts relating to the intro- 
duction of the Gospel, and the rise and progress of our 
denomination in the State. The constitution of all 
churches and associations, the names of all Baptist min- 
isters, and other important statistics were desired. Quite 
a valuable collection was made and deposited with J. H. 
Stribling, who afterwards loaned them to Z. N". Mor- 
rell, when he was preparing his "Flowers and Fruits." 
They seem never to have been returned, and are unhap- 
pily lost to the denomination. Creath made a report on 
education- commending Baylor University, which then 
had about seventy students and two young men prepar- 
ing for the ministry. 

Fourth Session. — This session met at Independence 
m June, 1851. Twenty-nine churches sent messengers. 
Baylor was made President, and Burleson was continued 
as Corresponding Secretary. The reports showed that all 



152 History of Texas Baptists. 

the lines of work engaged in by the Convention had been 
abundantly prosperous during the year just past, and the 
cause of missions was growing more encouraging. The 
report of Brother Pilgrim on Sunday-schools gave great 
comfort to those specially engaged in this work, showing 
as it did, that within the bounds of Colorado Association 
there were at that time twenty-two Sabbath-schools, with 
one thousand scholars. 

Fifth Session. — This session met at Marshall, in 
June, 1852, and thirty-two churches sent messengers. H. 
L. Graves was made President, and the old secretaries and 
treasurer were continued. At this session a proposition 
was made to the Convention by the Tyler church to es- 
tablish a Female School at Tyler. The matter was dis- 
cussed, but there was a prevailing idea to the effect that 
should they aid and foster other schools, it would lead to 
the neglect of Baylor University, which was then under 
the special patronage of the Convention, and was taxing 
its utmost capacity. A resolution was adopted declining 
to extend the fostering patronage of the Convention to 
the Tyler School, but commending it to the brethren and 
the Educational Boards of the Association, who might 
think proper to favor and engage in the enterprise. At 
this session J. W. D. Creath was appointed General Agent 
for the Convention. 

Sixth Session. — Convened at Huntsville, June 
18, 1853. Thirty-five churches and four associations 
sent messengers, and three annual members were enrolled. 
The old officers were mostly retained. Certain queries on 
dancing were presented, which the Convention wisely de- 
clined to entertain, on the ground that such matters did 
not come within the province of that body. The report on 



By B. F. Fuller. 153 

Education showed that the endowment of the presidency 
of Baylor University, amounting to $10,000, had been 
completed. There were one hundred and sixty students 
in attendance in the school, among whom were three or 
four ministerial students. 

Seventh session of the Convention met in Palestine, 
June 17th, 1854, and James Huckins was elected Presi- 
dent, and the other officers were continued as before. 
The report on Education showed that the Female Depart- 
ment of Baylor University was under the management 
of Eev. Horace Clark, and was in a flourishing condition. 
The property of the University was now valued at $40,- 
000. The Convention adjourned to meet at Independ- 
ence in October, 1855. 

During this period the University had greatly pros- 
pered. In 1849, arrangements had been made with Judge 
A. S. Lipscomb, who had been made one of the trustees, 
to deliver a series of law lectures, and a Department of 
Law was established, Judge Baylor also agreeing to give 
his services, as far as possible, to assist Judge Lipscomb 
in this department. In June 1851, H. L. Graves had- 
tendered his resignation as President of the University, 
which was accepted, and the Convention being in session, 
proceeded to elect a successor, and E. C. Burleson was 
unanimously elected President of the University. At the 
next meeting of the board, Elder Horace Clark was elect- 
ed Principal of the Female Department. 

The reports of the June term, 1853, showed that the 
condition of the University was in every way encouraging. 
It had commodious and substantial buildings, the endow- 
ment of the Presidency was little less than $10,000, and 
the number of students had reached one hundred and 



154 History of Texas Baptists. 

sixty-five, with six able instructors. At a meeting of the 
Board of Trustees in July, 1854, the old officers were 
re-elected, and it was ordered that only one examination 
was to be held each year, which should be at the close of 
the ten-month session. 

The degree of A. B. was conferred on Stephen D. 
Rowe, the first graduate of the institution. A committee 
was appointed to draft a plan for a Female College build- 
ing, and thanks were tendered to Gen. Sam Houston for 
a contribution of $330 cash for the education of young 
ministers. 

General Prosperity. — During this period the rapid 
development of the agricultural, educational, and relig- 
ious interest of Texas, was wonderful. In 1849 there 
were six District Associations and seventy-five churches, 
with a total membership of two thousand, with constant 
accessions by conversion and by letter. 

Elm Fork Association. — This Association was or- 
ganized in October, 1849, at Union church, Dallas county, 
with messengers from Rowlett's Creek, Union, Bethel and 
Lonesome Dove churches, and David Meyers, who had 
settled in Dallas county in 1845, was elected first Mod- 
erator. 

Rowlett's Creek Church was constituted by Elder 
David Myers and Jonathan Phillips February 12th, 
1847, on seven members, and Myers was the first pastor, 
and after him J. C. Partman.. A strong and influential 
church was built up here, and it has continued to be one 
of the leading churches in denominational work and 
Christian influence. 

Red River Association. — This body was organized 
on the 30th day of October, 1848, at Honey Grove, in 



By B. F. Fuller. 155 

Pannin county, by messengers from eight churches: 
Clarksville, Shiloh, Salem, South Sulphur, Liberty, Beth- 
el, New Salem and Honey Grove, which covered the terri- 
tory of Bowie, Red River, Lamar, Fannin, Titus and 
Hopkins counties. Concord, in Red River county, the* 
oldest Baptist church in Xorth Texas, did not send mes- 
sengers to the organization, but afterwards co-operated 
with this Association. Elder Benjamin Clark was the 
first Moderator. 

The second session of this body met with the Clarks- 
ville church in October, 1849, and the statistics showed 
at this time a total membership of one hundred and seven- 
ty-five. The ministers taking part in the organization of 
this Association were Benjamin Clark, Willis M. Pickett, 
J. R. Briscoe and Mills Piland. Clark must have come to 
Red River county early in the forties, but the exact date is 
not known. Pickett, Who came to Texas in 1842, was 
the grandfather of Dr. T. S. Potts, who, long years after, 
was the beloved pastor at Bonham. 

It is to be regretted that so little of the life and 
labors of Elder Mills Piland have been preserved, for he 
was a bold, able defender of the true faith, and did much 
towards laying the broad foundations of Red River Bap- 
tist Association. It is not known when he came to Texas, 
but in 1846 the writer knew him in Lamar county as an 
active minister, preaching wherever he could find an op- 
portunity. He was pastor of Shiloh and Salem churches, 
and Moderator of the second session of Red River Asso- 
ciation. 

Of the churches which took part in the organization 
of this Association we are able to give the history of but 
two. 



156 History of Texas Baptists. 

Hoxey Grove Church. — This church was consti- 
tuted by Rev. Willis M. Pickett, at a log house a few miles 
north of Honey Grove, on the 9th day of November, 1847, 
on nine members: John W. J.ones, Tamazine D. Jones, 
Tamazine F. Jones, Margaret Hart, Sinclair Stapp, Sally 
R. Stapp, Betsy G. Gilmer, Ben R. Parish and Theresa 
C. Parish. Pickett was chosen first pastor, J. W. Jones 
deacon, and Sinclair Stapp clerk. 

Clarksville Church was constituted by Rev. W. 
M. Pickett, in the fall of 1849, on seven members: John 
P. Dale, Mrs. Adeline Dale, John Sneider, Mrs. Xettie 

Sneider, Stephens, Mrs. America Stephens, and 

Mrs. Mary Loving. Brother Pickett became the first 
pastor, and John P. Dale was made clerk. Clarksville 
soon became a flourishing church, and has many times en- 
tertained Red River Association. Mrs. Loving after- 
wards became the wife of Rev. Potts, and mother of Dr. 
T. S. Potts, just mentioned. Mrs. Adeline Dale is living 
at Clarksville, and still retains her membership in that 
church, as full of good works as of years. Of the churches 
afterwards co-operating with this Association, and those 
organized during this period, we are only able to give a 
small sketch. 

The First Baptist Church of Paris. — This 
church was constituted by Rev. Willis M. Pickett on the 
23d day of April, 1854, on six members, as follows: J. 
Homer Cross, John W. Chenoweth, Goodman Tucker, 
Elisha Bell, Mrs. Amanda Cross and Mrs. Cynthia A. 
Little. Pickett was chosen pastor, Goodman Tucker dea- 
con, and J. H. Cross clerk. 

A Confession of Faith and Covenant were adopted, 
and the fourth Sunday in each month and Saturday be- 



By B. F. Fuller. 157 

fore was fixed for the regular time of meetings. At the 
regular meeting in May, Joseph Minton was received by 
letter, and Mrs. Martha Tucker, Mrs. Martha Millmer 
and Mrs. Talitha Greer were received on experience and 
were baptized on the next day, which was the first bap- 
tism of this church. One of these three, Mrs. Talitha 
Greer, who is now Mrs. Hearn, still survives, and ha;? 
held her membership in this church forty-five years. Dur- 
ing all these years she has kept her lamp burning. At 
the September meeting, messengers were appointed to 
Red River Association. At the April meeting, 1855, Bro. 
Pickett was appointed messenger to the East Texas Con- 
vention, to meet at Tyler. 

Rev. T. W. Anderson. — In noticing the ministers 
who came to Texas and Red River Association during this 
period, we must not omit to name Rev. Thomas W. An- 
derson, who came from Missouri to Texas in 1852, and 
settled in Red River county about seven miles east of 
Clarksville, near old Concord church, to which he 
preached for many years. At different times he was mis- 
sionary of the Red River Association, and Moderator 
several sessions. He was greatly blessed in his ministra- 
tions, and was abundant in labors. For more than fifty 
years he preached regularly and baptized hundreds of con- 
verts. He was the father of Dr. S. J. Anderson of 
Greenville, so well known throughout the State. 

Cherokee Association. — In December, 1851, this 
body was organized at Mt. Zion church, in Smith county, 
with messengers from Harris Creek and Mt. Zion, in 
Smith county, and Sharon, in Rusk. Elder J. Raspberry 
was made Moderator. At the second session, held at Har- 
ris Creek in 1852, a resolution was adopted favoring "The 



158 History of Texas Baptists. 

establishment of a Female High School at Tyler, in 
Smith county." This Association was active in mission- 
ary and educational work. At the fifth session, held with 
Carmel church in Smith county in 1855, fourteen church- 
es were reported, with a total membership of seven hun- 
dred and three. The territory of this Association at that 
time covered the counties of Rusk, Smith, Wood and Van 
Zandt. 

Bethlehem Association. — On the 25th day of Sep- 
tember, 1852, this Association was organized at Wood- 
ville, in Tyler county, with messengers from five church- 
es: Sardis, Indian Creek, Zion, Providence and Bethel, 
with a total membership of eighty-eight. E. Vining was 
made Moderator. This body prosecuted mission work 
with great energy, in so much that the sixth session 
showed twenty-two churches, with a total membership 
of six hundred and forty-two. Its territory embraced the 
counties of Jasper, Newton, Orange, Tyler, Polk, San 
Augustine and Jefferson. At the second session, an Ex- 
ecutive Committee was appointed to labor in the cause of 
missions, and this work was prosecuted with great fervor. 
The minutes of the sixth annual session show messen- c 
gers from twenty-two churches, with a total membership 
of six hundred and forty-two. 

Elder E. Vining, the first Moderator of this Associa- 
tion, came from Florida to Texas in 1850, and settled 
in Jasper county and was a man of ability and a bold 
defender of the true faith. He was Moderator of this 
Association at every session until his death in 1856. 

Sister Grove Association. — In October, 1853, this 
Association was organized at Pleasant Hill church, in 
Grayson county, with messengers from four churches — 



By B. F. Fuller. 159 

Bonham, Pleasant Hill, Salem and New Hope — with a 
total membership of one hundred and forty-five. Eev. J. 
0. Walker was elected Moderator, and a Missionary Board 
was appointed, consisting of Gideon Smith, S. D. Rainey, 
of Bonham church, and Z. Ray. 

Bonham Church. — This church was organized in 
November, 1852, by Rev. J. R. Briscoe, on six members: 
S. D. Rainey, Mrs. Mary Rainey, Miss Lizzie Russell, a 
sister of Mrs. Rainey, B. F. Fuller, Mrs. Martha Gilbert, 
and David Cowart. Of these, two are still living — B. 
F. Fuller, of Paris, Tex., and Mrs. Lizzie Alexander, of 
Bonham, formerly Miss Lizzie Russell. J. R. Briscoe be- 
came the first pastor, and he w T as also pastor in 1854 and 
1855, and again in 1859. Bonham soon became one of 
the strongest churches in North Texas, and has continued 
to be among the foremost in every enterprise for the ad- 
vancement of the cause of Christ. Among the early pas- 
tors besides Briscoe must be mentioned A. E. Clemmons, 
J. A. Fuller, J. W. Connally and S. J. Wright. 

In 1851, Briscoe had organized New Hope church, 
four miles east of Bonham, in a small log cabin, but this 
church was too weak to live long, and after aiding in the 
organization of Sister Grove Association, was disbanded 
in 1854. In connection with the organization of this 
church, J. W. Connally relates an incident that illustrates 
the times as well as the tact and ardor characteristic of 
Briscoe. The small log cabin in which the church was 
organized was used by the family not only to live in, but 
for a smoke-house in which to hang up their bacon. On 
that day, before they went into the organization of the 
church, Briscoe preached, and, becoming enthusiastic in 
his subject and emphasizing his earnest words by vigorous 



160 History of Texas Baptists. 

gesticulations, his hand struck a side of bacon that hung 
from the joist above his head, and it fell under his feet ; 
but, without any break in his discourse, he picked it up, 
laid it on the table, and spreading his handkerchief over 
it, placed his Bible on it, and continued his sermon. After 
which the church was organized with the Bible on the side 
of bacon. 

The Second Session of Sister Grove Association met 
with the Bonham church in September, 1854, and the 
board reported that J. E. Briscoe had been employed as 
missionary for the Association. He had been abundant- 
ly successful, he had witnessed one hundred and twenty 
conversions, and had baptized eighty-five persons during 
the year. 

Judson Association. — In November, 1853, this As- 
sociation was organized at Larissa, in Cherokee county, 
with messengers from seventeen churches, having a total 
membership of eight hundred. Rev. F. H. Lane was elect- 
ed first Moderator. This body was very active in mission- 
ary work, and at its fifth session, there were thirty-six 
churches co-operating, with a total membership of one 
thousand, four hundred. During this period. Gen. Sam 
Houston appears first as a personal figure in Texas Bap- 
tist history. In November, 1854, the "Hero of San Ja- 
cinto" appeared as a soldier again, but this time not to 
fight Mexicans and Indians, but as a soldier of the cross, 
to fight sin and Satan. Gen. Houston presented himself 
to Independence church and asked for baptism. After a 
clear, satisfactory statement by him as to his change of 
heart and faith in Christ, he was received by the church 
as entitled to baptism. On the 19th day of November, 
1854, in the presence of a great concourse of people, Dr. 



By B. F. Fuller. 161 

R. C. Burleson, the pastor, baptized Gen. Houston in a 
little clear stream, called Rocky, about one miles south of 
Independence. His life ever afterwards was that of a 
humble, consistent Christian. He took great interest in 
all the enterprises of Baptists in Texas for missions and 
education, and frequently attended the Baptist State Con- 
vention. Gen. Houston died in the town of Huntsville, 
Texas, on the 26th day of July, 1863, in the full tri- 
umphs of the Christian's hope. 

Mrs. Maggie Moffett Lea Houston, wife of Gen. 
Sam Houston. — Mrs. Houston was one of the noblest of 
the devoted, consecrated Baptist women of Texas. A 
personal acquaintance of hers has left the following rec- 
ord of her life : "She was pious, devoted and strongly at- 
tached to the great principles of practical Christianity, 
and made the Bible her companion and study/' What 
higher encomium could any Christian receive ? She met 
Gen. Houston in Mobile, and was fascinated with his 
charming address and brilliant gifts. Gen. Houston, how- 
ever, at this time, was unfortunately addicted to strong 
drink. But she conceived the idea which grew all-power- 
ful with her — that she could win him back from this ter- 
rible and blighting habit. This, we must say, is a most 
perilous undertaking for any woman, and one which rare- 
ly succeeds. But in this case, her love and labors, with 
which her prayers were intermingled, were crowned with 
most signal success. They were married on the 9 th day 
of May, 1840, at Marion, Ala., and the light came back to 
Houston's heart and his home. She became his guardian 
angel in public and in private life. She not only led him 
to temperance, but she led him to Christ. Mrs. Houston 
was always ready with her pen, with her labors, and with 



162 History of Texas Baptists. 

her money, to aid in building up the Christian enter- 
prises in Texas. 

Mrs. Houston died on the 30th day of December, 
1867, in the full hope of the blessedness of the blest. 

ministers. 

Elders Jonas Johnson and Thos. Chilton. — 
These two ministers of commanding ability and conse- 
crated lives came to Texas about the same time in 1851 
— Johnson from South Carolina, and Chilton from Ala- 
bama. Johnson directed his labors to spreading the Gos- 
pel in Middle Texas, serving as pastor at Huntsville, An- 
derson and other prominent churches. For many years 
he was a member of the Board of Directors of the State 
Convention, and a trustee of Baylor Female College. 

Chilton succeeded Dr. R. C. Burleson as pastor at 
Houston, and was very successful in his pastoral labors 
there. Mr. Chilton had been a member of Congress from 
Kentucky, and was a cousin of Judge Baylor. Like him, 
he had given up politics for the ministry, and under his 
preaching Judge Baylor was converted. 

G. W. Baines. — In 1850 Brother Baines came to Tex- 
as and located in Huntsville, serving that church as pas- 
tor. The Baptists of Texas were not slow to recognize 
his great worth. At the first session of the State Con- 
vention after his arrival in the State, he was elected Re- 
cording Secretary and messenger to the Southern Baptist 
Convention. For thirty-two years his name is found in 
the minutes of the State Convention. Dr. W. C. Crane 
says of him : "He was intimately connected with every 
good enterprise of the denomination." In 1851, he be- 




REV. G. W. BAINES. 



By B. F. Fuller. 163 

came pastor at Independence, and in 1852, he moved to 
Anderson, where he became pastor of that church, which 
was at that time perhaps the strongest one in the State. 
In January, 1855, he founded "The Texas Baptist/' the 
first Baptist newspaper in the State. He continued to be 
editor until the paper went down in the wreck and ruin 
of the war of 18G0. Under his management, the paper 
was a great power for good in the denomination in Texas, 
and a most valuable factor in building up every Christian 
enterprise. 

Eev. A. E. Clemmoxs. — In December, 1847, this elo- 
quent young Baptist preacher came to Texas. He settled 
at Clarksville, in Eed River county, and heartily co- 
operated with W. M. Pickett, preaching about two years 
at his own charges as an independent missionary. Be- 
ing himself a man of means, he asked no pecuniary com- 
pensation from any source. He then became pastor of 
Bonham church, and in 185 6 located in Marshall. A. 
E. Clemmons was a man of great energy and indomitable 
will, and with a bright and active mind. As an orator, 
he was brilliant, eloquent, and at times sublime. The 
writer has often heard him preach, when his audience 
seemed to be so absorbed that he swayed them at will. 
Waco University conferred on him the title of D.D. 

Eev. Stephen Marshall, during this period, came 
to Texas from Tennessee, and settled in Titus county, 
near Mt. Vernon; but at that time he had not been or- 
dained. He afterwards moved to Hunt count}', and be- 
came a member of Bethlehem church, by which church 
he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, and 
was an active, faithful minister in that county for many 
vears. 



164 History of Texas Baptists. 

During this period many churches were constituted 
that added great strength and prosperity to the Baptists 
in Texas. 

The First Baptist Church of Waco. — At the 
meeting of the State Convention in 1850, that patriot and 
veteran soldier of the cross, N. T. Byars, was appointed 
missionary to the Waco country. He at once entered 
upon his work, and soon gathered together the few scat- 
tered Baptists of the town of Waco (then a small fron- 
tier village) into a small board shanty, about where 
Jackson and Second streets now intersect; and on the 
3 1st day of May, 1851, constituted the First Baptist 
Church of Waco, with four members: James C. John- 
son, Geo. T. Holman, Noah Wood and Matilda Johnson. 
Wood was elected clerk, and on the following Sunday 
Brother Byars was chosen pastor. The church continued 
to worship in this rude structure till 1857. After two 
years, Byars resigned this pastorate and the place was 
at once filled by S. G. O'Bryan. 

S. G. O'Bryan". — This consecrated minister came to 
Texas from North Carolina in 1852. He was a gradu- 
ate of Wake Forest College, and accepted the professor- 
ship of mathematics in Baylor University, but in 1854, 
he settled in Waco as pastor of that church, which now 
numbered a membership of twenty-eight. He remained 
at Waco six years, when this little band which num- 
bered four in the beginning had grown to two hundred, 
and had erected a handsome brick church building. 

Rockwall Baptist Church. — On the 23d day of 
August, 1852, this church was constituted by John E. 
Briscoe and Mr. Glover, on eleven members, and J. C. 
Williams was made clerk, and Briscoe elected pastor. 



By B. F. Fuller. 165 

This church sent messengers to Sister Grove Association, 
but the records for several succeeding years seem not 
to have been preserved. 

The Texas Baptist General Association. — This 
body seems to have been organized on improper princi- 
ples and was short-lived. It will be remembered that 
at the meeting of the State Convention at Marshall in 
1852, a proposition was made to the Convention by the 
Tyler church to establish a Female School at Tyler, and 
that the Convention declined to assume the burden and 
care of the patronage and management of this school. 
This action of the Convention has been criticised as 
narrow and short-sighted. We think, however, that a 
comprehensive view of the situation in our State at that 
time will show that such criticisms are unjust. While 
Baylor University was yet in its infancy, and the Con- 
vention was struggling to its utmost capacity to build up 
that school and place it on a permanent foundation, it 
would have been manifestly bad policy to assume this 
additional burden. The Convention was not yet strong 
enough, and the Baptists of Texas were not yet able to 
enter upon a general educational enterprise. There is 
no soundness in the contention that "had the Conven- 
tion given a fostering care to the school at Tyler and at 
other points in the State, the patronage of Baylor would 
have been greatly increased by these co-operative feeding 
schools." However desirable, it was very evident that it 
was too early in our history for anything like this; 
though this may have been contended for at a later date 
with propriety and force. The evil consequences that fol- 
lowed cannot be said to have been the legitimate results 
of this action of the Convention. 



166 History of Texas Baptists. 

Elder G. G-. Baggerly, who was to have control of this 
school, and who assumed its special championship, was a 
man of very positive character, and was very aggressive 
in his advocacy, and severe as an opponent. He soon 
a reused bitter feelings against the Board of the Con- 
vention; or, as he called it, the "Convention of the 
West/ 3 charging misappropriation of funds, etc. And it 
brgan to be said by him and others, that it was evident 
that the eastern portion of the State was to have no 
sympathy in any educational enterprise. Baggerly can- 
vassed the eastern part of the State thoroughly, and in 
November, 1853, "The Texas Baptist General Associa- 
tion" was organized at Larissa, in Cherokee county. It 
seemed quite apparent that the result would be rivalry 
with the State Convention, and opposition to Baylor. 
This was, however, soon found not to be in harmony with 
the views of the more prudent brethren, whose only de- 
sire was to promote the Baptist cause in the whole State 
and the cause of Christ ; and they could not support the 
assumption of some of the promoters of this organiza- 
tion. The internal dissatisfaction developed to such an 
extent that it had but one more meeting after its or- 
ganization. On the 24th day of May, 1855, an adjourned 
meeting of this body was held with the Tyler church, 
and the following resolution was adopted : 

"Kesolved, That we dissolve any previous organiza- 
tion as a General Association; and that we now stand 
ready to go into any organization on proper principles, 
with the delegates present from the different churches, 
for the purpose of organizing an Eastern Texas State 
Convention in accordance with the recommendation of 
Soda Lake Association." 



By B. F. Fuller. 167 

By the close of this period, Baptists had pushed out 
into almost every part of this great State, where civili- 
zation had gone. 

Far up the Trinity, that intrepid pioneer, X. T. By- 
ars, with J. C. Hutton and E. A. Daniels, was organ- 
izing churches and laying the foundation for West Fork 
Association. West of the Brazos, J. S. Allen, W. B. 
Evans and J. G. Thomas and others were also organiz- 
ing churches and preparing the way for Little River As- 
sociation. 

The Gospel was heard with no uncertain sound in 
North Texas from the lips of Briscoe, Pickett, Clem- 
mons, Anderson and others. It was estimated that in 
1854 there were in Texas about ten thousand Baptists. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

1r0m the organization of the baptist contention 
of eastern texas, may 25, 1855, to the com- 
mencement of the confederate war, 
the ordinance of secession be- 
ing adopted on the 23d. 
day of february, 1861. 

The Baptist Convention of Eastern Texas. — 
After the dissolution of the Texas Baptist General Asso- 
siation at Tyler on the 24th day of May. 1855, the mes- 
sengers of nveiity-four churches from Harrison, Cass, 
Titus, Rusk, Anderson, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Chero- 
kee, Tyler, Bowie and Hopkins counties, came together 
for the purpose of organizing a Convention of East 
Texas, and W. H. Stokes was made Moderator. 

A committee, consistiDg of Bledsoe, Tucker, Bag- 
gerly, Hollingsworth, Davenport and Griffin, were ap- 
pointed to prepare a constitution. On the next day, May 
25, 1855, the committee reported a constitution, which 
was adopted, and in which the hody was styled "The 
Baptist Convention of Eastern Texas." The member- 
ship was to come from associations in proportion to 
their total membership, and from auxiliary societies in 
proportion to the money contributed. The objects of 
this organization as declared by the constitution were: 
"To secure the co-operation of the Baptists of Eastern 
Texas; to form plans for the revival of religion in the 
(168) 



By B. F. Fuller. 169 

State and elsewhere; to aid in giving effect to useful 
plans of assoeiational work; to afford opportunity for 
the formation of a fund for the education of 
young men for the ministry, and to promote 
pious and useful education in the Baptist de- 
nomination." This constitution seems to have been in- 
tended to be as unlike that of the State Convention as 
possible. After organization, the following resolution 
was adopted: "Resolved, That the Convention now go 
into a committee of the whole for the purpose of inves- 
tigating the charges and difficulties, together with all 
matters of difficulty between Brother Baggerly and the 
State Convention." 

A sub-committee was appointed to examine the books 
and take testimony. After a full and careful investiga- 
tion, the committee reported the following explanation of 
the discrepancy on which Baggerly' s charges were based: 

That fthe calculations of the agent and the State 
Convention had been made from the receipts of the 
Treasurer, as presented by G-. W. Baines, and were found 
to be correct and balanced within a few cents. But that 
Baggerly had made his calculations from the published 
reports of the financial agent of the Convention, which 
had been carelessly prepared. Upon this he based his 
charge of misappropriation of funds, which the records 
themselves really had made plausible, showing the deficit 
about as Baggerly had charged. 

Thus it appears that all this trouble, bad feelings, 
and these hard words, had resulted not in dishonesty 
or real deficits on the part of anybody, but from imper- 
fect book-keeping, and defective financial statements on 
the part of the agent of the State Convention. This 



1T0 History of Texas Baptists. 

incident ought to have been a very impressive and in- 
structive lesson to financial agents of after years, but the 
same troubles still continue to come up, caused by the 
same carelessness, and our brethren seem to learn noth- 
ing from experience. The Convention then adopted a 
resolution as follows: 

"Eesolved, That we regard the difficulty existing be- 
tween the East and West, to be amicably adjusted, and 
recommend that the brethren retract all unkind and un- 
scriptural words or articles that they may have spoken 
or written concerning each other." 

Gr. C. Diol was made Treasurer, and the usual com- 
mittees were appointed. 

Second Se-sion met at Rusk, November 9, 1855, with 
messengers from four associations — twenty in all. W. 
H. Stokes was made President. Correspondents were re- 
ceived from the Baptist State Convention. At this ses- 
sion, the constitution was so amended as to admit one 
messenger from each church without reference to money 
basis, and one additional for even' ten dollars contrib- 
uted; and five dollars contributed by any brother en- 
titled him to a seat. 

Third Session was held at Marshall. November 7, 
1856, with messengers from five associations and twelve 
churches. Jesse Witt was made President, and W. H. 
Stokes, Clerk. The report of the board showed that 
George Tucker had been appointed financial agent at 
a salary of $1,000 per annum. 

At the fifth session there were thirty-eight churches 
and seven associations, and A. E. Clemmons was made 
General Agent at a salary of 8800 per annum. 

Sixth Session was held at Bonham, June 25, 1859, 



By B.F. Fuller. 171 

with eight Associations and forty-five churches enrolled. 
A. E. Clemmons was elected President, S. J. Wright, 
Kecording Secretary, and S. D. Rainey, Treasurer. At 
this session a move was made to change the constitution 
so as to abandon the money basis of representation in the 
Convention. The discussion on this proposition was 
warm and spirited. The writer was present at that 
meeting, and was impressed with the fervid zeal and 
impassioned eloquence with which Josh Johnson advo- 
cated this change, maintaining that this money basis 
was unjust and humiliating to our poor brethren, setting 
the brother who had money in a higher seat than the 
brother who had none. On the other hand, A. E. Clem- 
mons left the chair and with equal fervor and ability 
supported the constitution as it was, maintaining that as 
mission work was the leading object of the organization, 
and as such work can not be carried on without money, 
this plan was not only proper, but absolutely necessary 
for any efficient work. 

The Convention, however, before adjournment, 
adopted the following amendment to Article Six : "That 
any church of thirty members or less, contributing to the 
funds of the Convention, shall be entitled to one dele- 
gate, and one additional delegate for every additional 
thirty members: and every Association contributing to 
the funds of the Convention shall be entitled to three 
delegates, and for even' five hundred, after the first five 
hundred, to an additional delegate/' 

The question of locating a denominational school 
came up at this meeting, and it was placed at Tyler, in 
Smith county, and was called the Texas Baptist College. 
A board of twenty-seven Trustees was appointed, and 



172 History of Texas Baptists. 

they employed W. B. Featherstone and J. E. Clark to 
take the control and management of the school. Under 
their supervision, the school was prosperous until the 
war-cloud overshadowed it, as it did all other educational 
interests. Fifty-seven churches and five Associations 
were enrolled at this session. J. S. Bledsoe was made 
President, and Josh Johnson was elected General Agent. 
The Convention adjourned to meet in Quitman in June, 
1861. 

The Baptist State Contention. — In 1855 this 
Convention met at Independence, and thirty-nine 
churches were enrolled. 

The Trustees of Baylor University reported one hun- 
dred and two students in the Male Department, and 
ninety-one in the Female Department. Dr. R. C. Burle- 
son. President of the University, was in special charge 
of the Male Department, and Horace Clark was in charge 
of the Female Department. The report of the Treasur- 
er of the Convention showed $2,141.34 received, and $1,- 
972.09 paid out during the year. From this time till 
the beginning of the war in 1861, the reports show no 
material change in the affairs of the Convention, as to 
the membership, number of churches, the contributions, 
scope and efficiency of missionary work; It had just 
about held its own during this whole period, up to the 
beginning of the war. At the session of 1860 at Inde- 
pendence, there were thirty-eight churches and nine as- 
sociations enrolled. The General Agent had raised dur- 
ing the year $2,148. Hosea Garrett was made Presi- 
dent, and J. W. Barnes was continued Treasurer. 

Baylor University. — This great educational enter- 
prise had been very prosperous under the presidency of 



By B. F. Fuller. 173 

Dr. R. C. Burleson. The report of the Board of Trus- 
tees of 1860 shows that the patronage of this school had 
increased to a matriculation of two hundred and thirty- 
five members in the Male Department, and one hundred 
and forty in the Female Department. Commodious 
buildings had been erected and supplied with conven- 
iences and costly apparatus for both departments. In 
the Law Department, Judge Lipscomb resigned in 1856, 
and GL W. Graves was elected professor of that depart- 
ment. 

The first graduate of the University, Stephen D. 
Rowe, had received the degree of A. B. in 1854. On the 
20th day of December, 1855, Miss Mary Grentry Kava- 
naugh, the first graduate of the Female Department, re- 
ceived a diploma. In 1857, Judge Royal I. Wheeler, 
Judge Baylor, and Capt. W. P. Rogers were elected pro- 
fessors in the Law Department, and in 1858, Honorable 
John Sayles was also made Law Professor. There were 
thirteen graduates in the Law School in 1858, and six- 
teen in 1859. R. C. Burleson being President of the 
University, claimed the right up to December, 1857, to 
control and direct the whole University, including both 
Male and Female Departments, as well as the Law 
School. He felt that his responsibility extended to the 
whole. Professor Clark denied the President's right to 
have anything to say about the management 
of the Female Department. He held himself 
alone responsible for it, as professor of that de- 
partment. This had brought about an unpleasant state 
of affairs between them. The trustees met on the 6th 
day of December, 1857, to consider of this matter. Af- 
ter deliberation, they determined to separate the Male 



174 History of Texas Baptists. 

and Female Departments to the extent that the Principal 
of the Female Department shall alone be held responsible 
for its management, and shall be independent of the 
President. The unpleasantness between President 
Burleson and Professor Clark was happily adjusted, and 
mutual co-operation was pledged. There had also arisen 
some differences between the trustees and Professor 
Clark, which led them to declare in no uncertain terms 
their right to control the management of the schools. 

Again, in 1860, the trustees recognized an unpleasant 
state of feeling between the President and the Prin- 
cipal of the Female Department, and it was adjusted as 
before. The President, Principal and Faculty gave "full 
assent and approval," and declared that "they were sat- 
isfied." Still, with all this, it was apparent that co- 
operation was only nominal, and the breach was still 
widening. 

NEWSPAPER. 

The Texas Baptist. — Before the beginning* of this 
period, the necessity for a denominational paper, devoted 
to the special interest of Texas Baptists was fully recog- 
nized by our brethren, :r:,J the matter had been several 
times discussed in the Conventions. In 1854 the board 
took steps to establish a paper to be called "The Texas 
Baptist." There were so many difficulties in the way 
that the first issue of this paper did not •appear until 
about the 1st of January, 1855, with George W. Baines as 
editor, assisted by J. B. Stiteler. The paper was located 
at Anderson, where Baines was serving as pastor. The pa- 
per was not self-sustaining, but twenty brethren agreed 



By B.F. Fuller. 175 

to became responsible for the expenses for one year. At 
the meeting of the Convention in 1856, the subscription 
list mid increased io over 1,400. In 1558. in order to 
put the paper on a more permanent basis, a joint stock 
company was organized, called the "•Texas Baptist Pub- 
lication Society.*'' In 1859, the circulation had in- 
creased to 2/200. In I860, J. A. Kimball removed to 
Anderson, and became connected with the paper, and in 
1861 Baines removed to Independence and Kimball took 
the editorial contract of the paper, but by September of 
that year the paper had succumbed to the general wreck 
of all enterprises in the demoralization ensuing from 
the war, and it was permanently suspended. At the 
meeting of Waco Association in September, 1861, the 
Committee on Literature and Periodicals, in their re- 
port, said, among other things: "The Texas Baptist, 
formerly the organ of the denomination in this State, 
has fallen under the pressure, and, in the opinion of your 
committee, is not likely to ever revive again/*'" 

The Texas Baptist was a most valuable factor in the 
development and instruction of our brethren in every de- 
nominational enterprise. 

ASSOCIATIONS. 

Austin Association was organized with the Austin 
church in 185?. Thirteen churches united in this organ- 
ization, and Hon. E. D. Towns was made the first Mod- 
erator. Elder A. W. Elledge took an active part in the 
organization. He was an able and bold defender of Bap- 
tist doctrines, and the trite faith. 

Mount Ziox Association was organized in 1857, at 



176 History of Texas Baptists. 

Mt. Zion church, in Rusk county, .on thirteen co-oper- 
ating churches, with a total membership of five hundred 
and thirty. J. H. Eoland was the first Moderator, and 
there were six ordained ministers and six licentiates in 
the organization. In 1858, there was great activity and 
prosperity among our brethren throughout the State, 
and many associations were organized. 

Sax Marcos Association was organized in Novem- 
ber, 1858, by ten churches from Colorado Association 
sending messengers to meet with Elm Grove church, in 
Gonzales county. J. T. Powell was made Moderator, 
and J. A. Kimball, Clerk. The next session of this body 
was held with Shiloh church in September, 1859, and 
six other churches sent petitionary letters, which now 
made sixteen churches, all from Colorado Association, 
which had been organized in 18-12. There were eleven 
ordained ministers now in the Association. 

During this same year of 1858, four other new asso- 
ciations sprang into existence, namely: Kichland, Leon 
River, Brazos River, and Try on, all on the west side of 
the Trinity river. 

West Fork Association was organized on the 12th 
day of October, 1855, with messengers from twelve 
churches, who met at Birdsville, in Tarrant county. N. 
T. Byars was the first Moderator, and there was a total 
membership of three hundred, including eight ordained 
ministers. At the session of 1857, at Bethel church, in 
Dallas county, twenty-one churches, with a total member- 
ship of six hundred and twenty-three, were enrolled. 

Little River Association" was organized at Cam- 
eron, on the 9th day of November, 1855, with messen- 
gers from eleven churches, having a total membership 



By B. F. Fuller. 177 

of five hundred and sixty-five, with four ordained min- 
isters. At the session of 1859, at Elm Grove church, in 
Williamson county, there were seventeen churches, with 
a total membership of ten hundred and thirty-seven. 

San Antonio Association was organized in 1858, 
at Shiloh church, in Atascosa county. « 

Waco Association. — On the 9th day of November, * 
1860, messengers from nine churches, principally from 
Trinity Eiver Association, with a total membership of 
five hundred and forty-one, met in Waco, and organized 
Waco Baptist Association. These churches and their 
messengers were enrolled as follows: 

Waco— J. W. Speight, N. W. Crain, D. B. Arnold 
and W. A. Thompson. 

Bosque — A. H. Ehodes and H. Eodgers. 

Blue Eidge— Z. N. Morrell and A. T. Trigg. 

Union Springs — G. T. Holman and E. K. Williams, 

Marlin — W. B. Evans, L. Magee and W. A. Mason. 

Bold Springs— Clay Cobb, T. Horsely and H. 
Vaughn. 

White Eock— W. E. Byrd, M. A. Bates and J. Y. 
Eiddle. 

Cow Bayou — Eobert More. 

Codo— 

Z. X. Morrell preached the introductory sermon, and 
was made Moderator, and J. W. Speight, Clerk. This 
was the last association organized during the period 
extending up to the adoption of the Ordinance of Se- 
cession, February 23, 1861. There were now within this 
State twenty-eight District Associations, of which Waco 
was the youngest. These associations are as follows: 
Union, Sabine, Colorado, Trinity Eiver, San Marcos, 



178 History of Texas Baptists. 

Soda Lake, Elm Fork, Sister Grove, Red River, Judson, 
Austin, Bethlehem, Cherokee, Central, Leon River, Little 
River, Mount Zion, Richland, Rehoboth, West Fork, Bra- 
zos River, Tryon, San Antonio, New Salem, Harmony, 
Liberty, Lavaca River and Waco. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

During this period, our brethren made commenda- 
ble efforts to establish and maintain other educational 
enterprises. 

Ladonia Male and Female Institute. — As early 
as 1857, Sister Grove Association had a strong report 
on education by a committee composed of S. J. Wright, 
T. B. McComb and Gideon Smith, urging the establish- 
ing of a denominational school in the Association. In 
1858, another able report on this subject was read by 
Col. Smith. At the session of 1859, it was resolved to 
put the school in operation, arid a committee was appoint- 
ed to locate it at the place offering the greatest induce- 
ments. Ladonia was selected, and the school of A. G. 
Moffett, then in operation, was adopted, and named the 
Ladonia Male and Female Institute. Professor Moffett 
was retained as principal by the Board of Trustees ap- 
pointed by the Association, of which Col. Gideon Smith 
was chairman. 

Waco Classical School. — As early 1855, Trinity 
River Association agitated the subject of a denomina- 
tional school, and in 1856 the school was located at 
Waco, and called the Trinity River High Male School. 
In February, 18G0, it was chartered under the name of 
"Waco Classical School," and by its terms was to be 



By B. F. Fuller. 179 

under the control of Trinity River Association, with 
which Waco church was affiliated. The school for a 
short time occupied the Baptist church building. Eev. 
S. G. O'Bryan was placed in charge of the school, and 
J. W. Speight was chairman of the Board of Trustees, 
By their indomitable energy, a large two-story brick 
building was soon erected. After the organization of 
Waco Association in November, 1860, the school passed 
from Trinity River to Waco Association. 

General Prosperity. — During this period, peace 
and harmony prevailed throughout the State, and gener- 
al activity and co-operation in all the labors and enter- 
prises of our Texas Baptists were manifest. Two gen- 
eral bodies were now working harmoniously together, and 
a great number of able and zealous ministers were her- 
alding the Gospel in every part of our great State, and 
calling sinners to repentance. These, together with the 
prosperous condition of our University and schools, all 
conspired to give a rose color to the prospects of Texas 
Baptists, and brought the liveliest emotions of joy and 
thankfulness to the hearts of the old veterans who had 
in tears and amid privations and sorest trials laid so firm- 
ly the broad foundations of the Baptist brotherhood of 
Texas. But, alas ! for all earthly prospects ! Peaceful 
pursuits were soon to be laid aside for the carnage of 
war. 

At the end of this period the war cloud was hanging 
dark and lowering over our whole land. Already the 
hosts were marshaling for one of the bloodiest conflicts in 
the annals of war. Already a majority of the Southern 
States had withdrawn from the Union, and the war 
spirit was rampant and all-absorbing, and with its 



ISO History of Texas Baptists. 

mighty sweep overshadowed all things else. Baptists, 
with that same devotion to the constitution that has al- 
ways characterized them, were ready to shoulder their 
guns and fight for their rights under it, as they under- 
stood them. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

DURING THE WAR, FROM TILE ADOPTION OF THE ORDI- 
NANCE OF SECESSION, FEBRUARY 23. 1561, TO THE 
CONCLUSION OF THE AVAR IN MAY, 1865. 

This period was ushered in with "wars dread alarm." 
The great struggle called out every energy and engrossed 
universal interest. The shrill commands of the drill 
officer were heard more distinctly than the mellow en- 
treaties of the man of God, and all religious and edu- 
cational enterprises were stagnant. 

THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF EASTERN TEXAS. 

This body met at Quitman, in "Wood county, in June, 
1861, and T. M. Griffin was. made President. This 
meeting was well attended hut by no means harmonious. 
Dr. Peeves, of Sulphur Springs, had made an attack 
before the Phehoboth Association on the general agent 
of the Convention, and charged the board with improper 
use of money collected. The matter came up in the Con- 
vention, with all its acrimony and personality. Xot only 
there, but in certain other quarters, there was manifested 
about this time a decided opposition to Baptist conven- 
tions, and against boards specially, contending that they 
tended to centralize power. In this instance not only 
the Convention, but its financial agent, was assailed by 
Dr. Peeves, as ignoring the people and centralizing all 
~ (181) 



182 History of Texas Baptists. 

power in the board. But it was soon quite apparent that 
this complaint was inspired by the antinomain spirit, 
that had given so much trouble to our churches in East 
Texas in earlier days. It was still lurking in the 
churches, opposing all mission work and all organization 
for that purpose. The outcry against centralizing power 
in boards was the chief means of arousiug the prejudices 
of the masses. We do not learn from the records what 
was the final action of the Convention on this charge of 
Dr. Beeves, but it is evident the general agent made a 
satisfactory showing before the Convention, accounting 
strictly for all the funds that had come into his hands. 
In the demoralization of the times there was no attempt 
to hold a meeting in 1862 or 18G3. In 1861 there was 
a feeble effort to hold a meeting at Marshall, but noth- 
ing was done, and in 1865 there was no meeting. 

THE BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION". 

This body met in Huntsville in October, 1861, and 
H. L. Graves was made President, and Horace Clark 
Corresponding Secretary. The Committee on Divine 
Service announced that special "prayer would be offered 
to the God of battles for our beloved Confederacy/' But 
little work was attempted at this meeting. It was an- 
nounced that Dr. P. C. Burleson, President of Baylor 
University, and the entire faculty had resigned, and G. 
\W Baines had been elected by the trustees President for 
one year, and other chairs being also filled. The Con- 
vention met at Waco in 1862. But little had been done 
for missions during the year. It was announced to the 
Convention by the Committee on Books and Periodicals 




W. C CRANE. D. D.. LE D. 



By B. F. Fuller. 183 

that the Texas Baptist had been compelled to suspend 
because it was impossible to obtain paper. Missionaries 
had been appointed on the basis of pledges made in 
1861, still, in the general confusion of war, these pledges 
had not been paid, and the missionaries were greatly 
embarrassed. i 

In 1863 the Convention met at Independence, and ' 
the old officers were mostly continued. The trustees of 
Baylor were requested by resolution to arrange for theo- 
logical instruction to such young ministers as might at- 
tend the school, and an earnest appeal for this cause was 
made. A resolution was adopted to make an effort to 
raise $10,000 to send missionaries to our soldiers, and 
89,258 in cash and pledges was raised on the spot for a 
soldiers' mission fund. The trustees of Baylor Uni- 
versity made the following report: 

"Notwithstanding the shock that this and all other 
literary institutions throughout the country has received 
from the present war, it now numbers two hundred 
students in both departments in actual attendance." 

Win. Carey Crane had been appointed President of 
the University. Little missionary work had been done. 
Only two missionaries had been under appointment. 
The Convention met at Huntsville in 1864. The follow- 
ing resolution was adopted : 

•'That while the Convention regards Baylor as the 
only institution to which is pledged its contributions 
and patronage, still it delights in giving countenance 
to every Baptist institution in the State, and hails with 
pleasure the tokens of their prosperity.*' 

Five missionaries had been maintained during the 



184 History of Texas Baptists. 

year, who reported thirty-two baptisms, besides forty- 
four other baptisms in the army. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The Texas Baptist College, which had been lo- 
cated at Tyler in 1860 under the supervision of W. B. 
Featherstone "and J. K. Clark, had an auspicious be- 
ginning, and fairest prospects attended it for more than 
two years, but the school being composed mostly of 
young men, the war spirit took possession of it and them, 
and books were thrown aside, and eighty students, at 
the call of their State, enlisted at one time, and conse- 
quently the school went down. Professor Clark returned 
to his farm in Cass countjr, and Featherstone returned 
to Boston, Texas, taking charge of the school he had 
left. 

Ladonia Institute. — When this school was located 
Ladonia gave a two-story building and subscriptions 
amounting to $2,610, all being valued at $3,400. The 
institution opened under the most favorable auspices. 
In 1861 the trustees reported that they had secured the 
services of Rev. J. C. Averitt and wife as principals. 
Under this management the school nourished and gave 
promise of great usefulness. 

Baylor University. — As we saw in the previous 
chapter, trouble in the University had been brewing for 
some time. In 1860 there was such a lack of co-oper- 
ation and harmony between the two departments, and 
such general dissatisfaction in the male department with 
the action of the trustees, that both departments seri- 
ously felt the injury, and the outlook was ominous. The 



By B. F. Fuller. 185 

Board of Trustees had adopted the following resolution : 
"Not as a threat, or desiring to be disrespectful to our 
President, Principal and Faculty, but to let them know 
that our patience with their petty difficulties is exhaust- 
ed, and for the future no compromises will be required; 
but with the fear of God before our eyes, if they shall 
merit it by their conduct, we will promptly apply the 
remedy, from the President to the professors, even if it 
should sever the ties that connect us together. Co-oper- 
ation and peace we must have between our departments."' 
From anything written in an official way or from any 
official report, the real inwardness of this trouble eloes 
not clearly appear. At a meeting of the trustees on the 
loth day of May, 1861, however, the culmination was 
reached, when notices were served on the board from 
President E. C. Burleson, Professors E. B. Burleson, D. 
E. Wallace and 0. H. Leland, that they would withdraw 
their connection with the University at the end of the 
session, and letters of resignation were duly tendered. 
The session closed in June, without any examination or 
commencement exercises. The resignations were all 
promptly accepted, and the board at once applied them- 
selves to the task of filling the vacancies. The Stare 
Convention stood by the Board of Trustees. These un- 
fortunate disturbances may be said to be the inevitable 
outcome of the impracticable and cross-grained govern- 
ing relations of the male and female departments of the 
University by the Board of Trustees. Xo one doubts 
that these trustees were conscientious, honest, correct and 
able business men, but they failed to comprehend the 
incongruity of making Professor Clark independent of 
the President, when the female department was really 



186 History of Texas Baptists. 

a part of the University. By such a mistake eventually 
all co-operation was destroyed. 

Baylor opened its session of 1861 under this burden, 
as well as the shadow and gloom of war. The trustees 
had elected G-. W. Baines as President of the University 
for one year. S. Gr. O'Bryan was made Professor of 
Mathematics, and John C. Anderson Professor of An- 
cient and Modern Languages. O'Bryan declined to ac- 
cept, and J. F. Hillyer was appointed. In 1863 B. S. 
Fitzgerald was made Professor of Ancient Languages. 
At a meeting of the trustees on August 15, 1863, William 
Carey Crane was elected President of the LTniversity, to 
begin the 1st day of January, 1864. In 1863 the male 
department had sixty pupils, and the female department 
one hundred and forty. In 1864 there were one hundred 
and one in the male department, and one hundred and 
sixty in the female department. This year a chair of 
theology was established. 

Waco Classical School. — After the organization 
of Waco Association and the affiliation of Waco church 
with that body, the charter was changed by mutual agree- 
ment between Trinity Piver and Waco Associations, so 
as to place this school under the control and manage- 
ment of Waco Association, with a transfer of all the 
property and book depositories. The Principal, John C. 
West, had resigned January 1, 1861, and the trustees 
employed Dr. R. C. Burleson, the late President of Bay- 
lor University, with the entire faculty of the male de- 
partment of that institution, who had resigned their con- 
nection with that school. Dr. R. C. Burleson, as Presi- 
dent- with this corps of teachers, took charge of Waco 
Classical School on the 1st day of September, 1861. The 



ByB.F.FuOer. 1ST 

charter was again amended, changing the name to Waco 
University. In changing the name, however, the rela- 
tion of the school to the denomination anc. :: the asso- 
eiation was not affected. The appointment of the trus- 
tees was still with the Waco Association. The following 
nan idded to the existing list of trustees: Thos. 

P. Aycoek, H. It Watkins, Wm. Hogue. W. A. Mill:-: 
J. P. Cole, W. P. Rogers, R D. Towns, J. M. Perry, 
Charles E. BreedloTe and Paul l£a - The records 

covering this period seem to have been lost or misplaced, 
and we are unable to give a more specific history of this 
flourishing Baptist institution. 

In the minutes of Waco Association, however, cf 
S H 3 the report on schools and education, among ofchei 
_-. ontained the following: "We are to report thai 
Waco University, under the direction of this Association, 
is in a flourishing condition, and is accomplishing much 
good. Three young preachers have been educated in this 
institution, two of whom are efficient chaplains in the 
army, and the other gives promise of great usefulness." 
At this ; session the trustees reported that Waco 

University had been put "upon a footing equal to that 
the most favored institutions of learning in the Con- 
federate States, and had matriculated last year one hun- 
dred and nine: - ~ stn mts, fully twice as many as :. 
other college in the Si 

MISSIONARY WORK. 

During this period every interest wafi ; wershad- 
owed by the war. and every enterprise so paralyzed, that 
re was almost no attempt at any organized miss 



188 History of Texas Baptists. 

work, and the churches were generally dormant. At the 
close of the war, J. H. Stribling and two others were 
said to be the only Baptist preachers in Texas devoting 
their entire time to the work of the ministry, and relying 
on it for a support. But there were not lacking many 
instances of individual effort, that were crowned with 
signal success. Elm Fork Association in 1862 reported 
seventy-one baptisms, and sent a missionary to the 
army; and in 1863 there were eighty-four, and in 1864 
one hundred and forty-two baptisms in this association. 
In 1863 and 1864, J. H. Stribling and F. M. Law held 
very successful meetings at Anderson and at Pine Grove 
churches. Union Association never missed a single ses- 
sion during the war, but an average number of churches 
were enrolled at every session, and a missionary in the 
army was supported. R. C. Buckner, now of the Or- 
phans' Home, was then pastor of the Paris church, and 
did a great work. During one revival meeting in 1863, 
extending through several weeks, there were ninety-nine 
baptisms. 

J. R. Briscoe, at one time missionary of Sister Grove 
; Association, and again of the Baptist Convention of 
I Eastern Texas, enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862, 
and was made Captain of Company E, Fitzhugh's regi- 
ment. He was the galllant leader of his company in 
every battle and every skirmish till his death. At the 
same time he never missed an opportunity to preach the 
Gospel, and with melting pathos pleaded with his com- 
rades to enlist as soldiers of the cross. As an individual 
instance of noble self-sacrifice in this period may be 
mentioned Dr. R. C. Burleson at Waco. To save Waco 
University amid the general wreck he sold his lands, 



By B. F. Fuller. 189 

mortgaged his property, and borrowed money wherever 
he could to keep the school going. 

There were at the close of the war three hundred and 
fifty Baptist churches in the State, and these in the main 
had maintained their integrity, and many had increased 
in numbers, notwithstanding the mortality of the war. 
Much missionary work was done in the army, but for 
lack of proper data we can only refer to the' fact in a 
general way. 



- v ::: :7-: ; :i ihz — ^! ::" ::^t Li * : 

7zz i z:z_l77 :y :i :z: z^ :>: z 1:^1 _-- 
Zi.77 :i 77ZZ37L5 rzirl' I* * 

r since our forefathers planted die £r?r settle- 
■ant at Jamestown in 1607 had the hopes and prospects 

: r S . _ " -_.t :'. : .- : 7 

war. Our cause lost: the countrr prostrated; and the 

__•-_ : - 7 . rz! • - •-- ■ 7 : z; :~zf — i :>--.". r 
Iiien:::- 77. fi -;:-_- 

a picture before which many hearts grew faint. Hone- 
over, the demoralizing influence of those fearful days 
of reconstruction, was little less than actual war. 

'/:.: r :. ; :: 7.- 77 7^ - ] --" 7777 I .7 77777; 
m Texas were not dead. Emerging with sneh life and 

gate the strongest proof of die dmnirr of Christian 

7 7.:; V - -7 1 7.7 - 77 71.7:- 7 3 " .r 7 7. _ 



7.77 ~' -' -- ;; 7 .1 77 £ _.; 7"-" "7 - 7 ' — II "7- 

~" ~" : -7 " A"77rf . ^77777::^: "\ "- " 777- 

jhurches and diree associations were enrolled. H . 

- - - s made President, and Horace Clark Cor- 

- Tr^etarr. It was announced that "the con- 

(190) 



By B. F. Fuller. 191 

free from debt and a small surplus for the oper- 
ations of the ensuing year." The great importance of a 
denominational paper was discussed and emphasized, and 
also a Sunday-schooi State C invention was recommend- 
ed. Domestic missions were declared to be "the coi 
stone of the Convention^ 

In 1S66 the C n ention met at Independence. Twen- 
ty-one churches and four associations were enrolled, and 
the old officer r were : ontinued. There were raised % 
for the domestic Mission Board of the Southern Bat tist 
Convention. $130 for ministerial education, and 8: .: 
for Sunday-schools. It was reported to the C c nvention 
that the female department of Baylor University had 
been separated from the University and organized as an 
independent college. J. TV. D. Creath was placed hi 
field as general agent of the Convention. A resolution 
was adopted pledging a most hearty co-operation 
J. F. Hillyer in his proposed work among the negroes. 

In the report of the Corresponding Secretary, H. 
Clark, made at this session, there are some points of 
special interest, which we quote as follows: "In the 
rval constitution the objects of the Convention ~ r : c 
declared to be missionary and educational; and after 
:s 'if eventful Listory — e still meet for the 
promotion of the same important objects. At its organ- 
ization the Convention was not exclusively a representa- 
tive body. Any member of a Baptist euareh might re 
a member at any one session upon the payment of $5, 
and a life member on payment of $25. This eondit 
of membership, copied from the constitutions of similar 
organizations in the North, was retained for several 
years, and met with a fair degree of success. It at length. 



192 History of Texas Baptists. 

however, became apparent that objections had arisen in 
the minds of many good brethren to this purchase of 
membership in the Convention, and a decided desire was 
expressed for a change to an unqualified representative 
system. Proceeding upon the principle that the system 
is best that secures the most cordial co-operation of the 
brethren, a resolution was introduced at the session of 
1859 for a change in the constitution, and at the follow- 
ing Convention in 1860 it was ordained that "this Con- 
vention shall be composed of delegates of regular Baptist 
churches and associations in proportion to their num- 
bers, as follows: Each association shall be entitled to 
five delegates, and one additional delegate for every five 
hundred members after the first five hundred, and each 
church shall be entitled to one delegate, and one addi- 
tional delegate for every twenty-five members." This 
basis of membership has been unanimously indorsed by 
nearly all of the associations within the bounds of the 
Convention. 

For several years the finances of the Convention were 
under the absolute control of the Board of Directors. 
They could appropriate what sums of money they chose, 
appoint missionaries without limit, and create any 
amount of indebtedness. The Convention had no other 
voice in the matter than to liquidate the indebtedness 
in the best manner she could at the end of the year. The 
startling consequences to which such a system might 
lead, even under the guidance of the purest motives, 
alarmed many of the best friends of the Convention. In 
the year 1861 an amendment to the constitution was 
adopted, placing the finances of the Convention on a cash 
basis, and forbidding the board to appropriate money 



By B. F. Fuller. 193 

not already in hand. The board, in her expenditures 
now proceeded, upon the principle that she is but the 
dispeuscr of the benefactions of the brethren. She does 
not anticipate them, nor presume to judge what they 
ought to be. Whatever sums she finds in the treasury 
at the commencement of any conventional year, that sum 
is the basis of her operations during the year. It is plain 
that so long as this principle is recognized, and the re- 
quirements of the constitution respected, the Convention 
can never be in debt. 

At the session of 1SG5 an amendment to the con- 
stitution was adopted requiring the members of the 
Board of Directors to be selected from the members of 
the Convention. These are all the changes of any im- 
portance that have been made in the constitution since 
its adoption in 18iS. They are no reflection upon the 
wisdom of those who framed it; they are simply a con- 
cession to the teachings of experience ; and it is a proof 
of the original strength of the constitution, that in a 
searching trial of eighteen years, so few changes have 
been found necessary. 

In reviewing the financial history of the Convention 
from its organization to the present time we find the 
aggregate of receipts to be about $35,000. or an average 
of nearly $2,000 a year. The smallest amount was $94. 
contributed at the organization of the Convention in 
1S-48. The largest amount in specie funds was $3,- 
353.52, in 1858. The records show that where the Con- 
vention dispensed with the services of a traveling agent 
the receipts dwindled to a mere nominal sum. The time 
has now arrived when the services of one or more travel- 



194 History of Texas Baptists. 

ing agents should be considered indespensable to the life 
of the Convention. 

The plan to collect funds is not of the Convention, 
nor of the associations exclusively, but the churches and 
the homes of the brethren, and whenever these have been 
visited by the agents of the Convention the receipts have 
invariably gone up to comparatively large amounts. The 
funds of the Convention have been disbursed as follows : 
To associations for missionary purposes, to feeble 
churches, to the support of young men studying for the 
ministry, to foreign missions, to domestic missions, and 
during the war to army missions. All contributions 
are appropriated in accordance with the will of the 
donors, and where no direction is thus given them, they 
are applied to domestic missions. 

The missionaries who. since the organization of the 
Convention, have been supported in whole or in part by 
its funds, have left a record of their labors that should 
cheer the heart and nerve the arm of every friend of the 
Convention and of every lover of Zion. They have been 
instrumental in the organization of five or six associa- 
tions, and between forty and fifty churches, and in the 
erection of from twenty-five to thirty meeting houses. 
Tliey have ordained from twelve to fifteen ministers of 
the Gospel, and from twenty-five to thirty deacons. Three 
hundred converts were baptized in one year by them, and 
about twenty-five hundred in all. And these results have 
been accomplished with limited means, for no one can 
think that the aggregate funds placed at the disposal of 
the Convention for the past eighteen years fairly repre- 
sent either the wealth or the numerical strength of the 
denomination. But the accomplished facts indicate that 



By B. F. Fuller. 195 

God has blessed the labors of the Convention, and this 
should encourage our hearts for renewed efforts in the 
cause of our blessed Redeemer. 

In 1867 the Convention met at Gonzales on Novem- 
ber 30, but the scourge of yelllow fever that had prevailed 
in the State for months made the attendance very small. 
The old officers were mainly continued. The prevailing 
epidemic had produced such a panic that Baylor Uni- 
versity and Baylor Female College were forced to sus- 
pend. The general agent, J. W. D. Creath, had collect- 
ed $1,380.15. 

THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF EASTERN TEXAS. 

This body did not meet in 1865, but met in 1866, 
June 22, with Harris Creek church, in Smith county. 
The attendance w r as small. A commendable interest in 
mission work was manifested, but there were no means 
on hand or in prospect. It was finally proposed to select 
some one and ask him to take the field as a missionary 
and trust God for a support. D. B. Morrell was chosen, 
and he felt that the voice of his brethren was the voice of 
God, and at once agreed to go. D. D. Swindall and W. 
G. Caperton also volunteered to go in the same way. 
As the brethren gathered around these missionaries, 
pledging their sympathies and prayers, which were all 
they had to give, the scene was deeply affecting, and 
aroused the brethren to the greatest enthusiasm. 

The next session was held at Ladonia, in Fannin 
county, in June, 1867, but the attendance was small on 
account of the prevailing epidemic of yellow fever. The 
usual committees were appointed and routine business 



196 History of Texas Baptists. 

was transacted. The report of D. B. Morrell, general 

agent and missionary, showed very encouraging results. 
He had been very active, traveling all over the territory 
of the Convention, preaching wherever he could find an 
open door, and had conducted revival meetings of great 
success. He had witnessed about four hundred acces- 
sions to the different churches, mostly by baptism. He 
had collected in cash $804.08, and secured pledges to the 
amount of $1,263.42/ 

A resolution was adopted recommending that the 
Convention of Eastern Texas be changed to a general 
association, and the churches and associations were re- 
quested to take the matter under consideration and re- 
port through the general agent. The general agent was 
directed to correspond with those interested and secure 
a called meeting for this purpose at an early day. Mor- 
rell was continued as general agent, and J. D. Williams, 
of Angelina, and H. E. Callahan, of Henderson, were 
appointed missionaries. One thing that tended to make 
the attendance small was that the anti-mission spirit, 
which had in an early day so troubled the churches in 
the eastern part of the State, was still working injuri- 
ously in many churches, causing opposition to conven- 
tions and boards and all organized mission work. The 
spirit of the brethren who did attend was most excellent. 
The special meeting of the Convention was called and 
met at Tyler, October 12, 1867, to consider the proposi- 
tion of changing to a general association, with an en- 
larged sphere of operation. The still prevailing epidemic 
prevented a large attendance. The proposition carried 
by a unanimous vote, and a committee, composed of one 
from each, association, co-operating with the body, was 



By B. F. Fuller. 197 

appointed to draft a provisional constitution for the gen- 
eral association, and the meeting adjourned, subject to 
the call of the President. The committee met according 
to call on the loth day of October, 1867, and reported, 
presenting a provisional constitution, which, after some 
discussion, was unanimously accepted, and the body ad- 
journed to meet at Chatneld, in Navarro county, -in July, 
1868, to perfect the organization. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND COL170RTAGE CONVENTION. 

At the close of the war, in 1865, there was scarcely 
any vitality in Sunday school work. However, a gen- 
eral activity in all Christian enterprises among Texas 
Baptists began to develop everywhere. It began to be 
sensibly realized by the brethren in various parts of the 
State that the great Sunday-school work had been sadly 
neglected. The State Convention had been in existence 
eighteen years, and the East Texas Convention and many 
district associations many years, but no distinctive Sun- 
day-school and colportage enterprise had as yet been 
set on foot. At the meeting of Union Association in 
1865, at Washington, S. I. Caldwell, Chairman of the 
Committee on Work, in his report, made a strong appeal 
for the formation of an organization for the promotion 
of Sunday-schools. After discussing the matter a reso- 
lution was adopted to call a convention for this purpose, 
to meet at Independence, on the 28th day of October, 
1865. At this Convention messengers from twenty 
churches and seven Sunday-schools were present. Judge 
A. S. Broadus was made President, and Deacon B. S. 
Fitzgerald was appointed Secretary. W. C. Crane, F. 



19S History of Texas Baptists. 

M. Law, H. Garrett, J. W. Terrell and Judge E. E. B. 
Baylor were appointed a committee to report a plan of 
organization and constitution. This committee made 
their report at the evening meeting, which was at once 
adopted, and permanent officers were elected. 

The first article of the constitution reads as follows: 
"This body shall be called "The Texas Baptist Sabbath- 
school and Colportage Union/ " The next article reads : 
"The objects of this Union shall be the promotion of the 
Sunday-school enterprise, by providing the ways and 
means for the establishment of Sun day -schools through- 
out the State where they do not exist ; securing a full 
supply of books for pupils in all the schools of our de- 
nomination where they do exist, and in general to take 
all necessary measures for the furtherance of this great 
religious interest. It shall also be the object of this 
Union to establish and carry out a system of colportage. 
through which a sound religious literature, suitable to 
all our religious wants, may be provided for the people 
i f Texas/' 

A board of thirteen managers was provided for. The 
Union was to be composed of delegates from Baptist 
churches and Sunday-schools. The next meeting was at 
Plantersville, in July, 1S66, and was well attended. In 

" the Union met at Lexington, and twenty-five 
churches and one mission sent messengers. J. H. Strib- 
ling was called to preside at the meeting, and Deacon 
C. R. Breedlove was made Secretary. The report of the 
Board of Managers showed much valuable work done by 
the Corresponding Secretory. S. S. Cross. Many Sunday- 
school- had been organized, and increasing interest 
throughout the State was reported. F. M. Law read a 








J. B. LINK. 



By B. F. Fuller. 199 

report on colportage; J. J. Sledge on plan of opera- 
tions; E. C. Burleson on the condition of Sunday- 
schools ; W. H. Land on Sunday-school periodicals. The 
financial report closes with the statement that "last year 
cash and pledges amounted to $600 ; this year. $2,600." 
At this meeting the name of this body was changed to 
"The Texas Baptist Sunday-school Convention/' and 
adjourned to meet at Waco in 1868. 

BAPTIST NEWSPAPERS. 

The Texas Baptist Herald was established by J. B. 
Link at Houston, and the first issue appeared December 
13, 1865. A trip to Central and Eastern Texas in the 
interest of the paper was at once undertaken. On reach- 
ing Smith county, and learning that another Baptist 
paper, edited by X. P. Moore, had appeared at Tyler in 
its first issue, The Herald was somewhat discouraged. But 
this Tyler newspaper enterprise was evanescent; a second 
issue never appeared. The first issue of the Baptist Herald 
received flattering compliments all over the country. 
Several brethren joined and advanced to J. B. Link, 
editor and proprietor, $150 each, and some $100, to help 
him buy type and fixtures for the paper. All of which 
was paid back with interest when the paper became self- 
sustaining. The second issue of the paper was made 
March 3, 1866, and another March 29, but the regular 
issue did not begin until July. During the fearful 
scourge of yellow fever in 1867, so fatal in Houston, the 
paper was suspended for a time, then issued twice a 
month the remainder of 1867 and through 1868. 



200 History of Texas Baptists. 

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY. 

On the 8th day of February, 1866, the Law De- 
partment was revived and placed under the management 
of Professor P. T. Smith. Professor Clark, Principal 
of the Female Department, having been granted leave 
of absence for one year, Professor Fitzgerald took his 
place. By an act of the Legislature, approved September 
24, 1866, the Female Department of the University was 
made a separate institution, to be controlled by a sep- 
arate Board of Trustees, under the name of Baylor Fe- 
male College. This action was approved by the Con- 
vention at its session in October following, and all neces- 
sary measures were adopted by the trustees to complete 
the separation. On December 6, W. A. Montgomery was 
elected Professor of Practical Economy and English Lit- 
erature in the University. At a meeting in February, 
1867, the chapel in the new building was named "Hosea 
Garrett Chapel." 

BAYLOR FEMALE COLLEGE. 

As has already been seen, it was September 12, 1866, 
when the law went into effect creating Ba}dor Female 
College out of the Female Department of the University. 
Up to this time the anomalous relations existing between 
the University and the Female Department was a con- 
tinued source of irritation. While the Female Depart- 
ment was, according to the charter and nominally, a part 
of the University, yet practically they were independent 
in management. A separate Board of Trustees was now 



By B. F. Fuller. 201 

appointed, and Horace Clark was made President of the 
college. 

WACO UNIVERSITY 

Continued under the nominal control of Waco Asso- 
ciation, but was managed by the Faculty and Board of 
Trustees. The school was co-educational in its manage- 
ment, and was conducted with signal success under the 
Presidency of Dr. E. C. Burleson. In 1867 there were 
two hundred and fifty-three matriculations. 

DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS. 

Union Association met at Washington in its first ses- 
sion after the close of the war in September, 1865. Judge 
R. E. B. Baylor was made Moderator, and 0. H. P. 
Garrett Clerk. It was at this session that a resolution 
was adopted that U A Sunday-school Convention be held 
with Independence church on Saturday before the fifth 
Sunday in October, for the purpose of arousing an in- 
creased interest in the Sunday-school enterprise.'"'* Re- 
ports were read at this Convention on foreign missions, 
associational missions, education, temperance, Sunday- 
schools, and religious condition of the negroes ; all of 
which showed that the fiery trials of the bloody war had 
not quenched the noble Christ-like spirit that had char- 
acterized this body from its earliest history. And so 
throughout this period all these subjects continued to 
receive unabated interest in the Association. 

Waco Association. — The first session of this body 
held after the close of the war was with the Waco church 



202 History of Texas Baptists. 

in August, 1865. Twelve churches sent messengers. R. 
C. Burleson was made Moderator, and J. W. Speight 
Clerk. Although the churches were just emerging from 
the dark clouds of a four years' war, which exhausted the 
resources, but did not break the spirit of our people, 
nevertheless ringing reports were adopted on foreign 
missions, home missions, schools, Sabbath-schools, peri- 
odicals, colored missions, temperance . and finance. 
Throughout this whole period the liveliest interest in all 
these subjects continued to be apparent. In indorsing 
the movement to organize the General Association, the 
following resolution was adopted; 

"Resolved, That we entertain, in forming a new or- 
ganization, the kindliest Christian feeling for the Bap- 
tist State Convention, and that our only desire is to pro- 
mote the efficiency and harmony of our churches.'' 

Soda Lake Association. — This was the mother of 
associations in East Texas, and had been one of the larg- 
est in the State, numbering about forty churches. Xew 
Salem on the north, and Harmony Association on the 
south, having been formed mostly of churches from this 
body, its boundaries were now considerably contracted. 
Quickly recovering, however, from the depressing in- 
fluences of the war, great activity in all Christian work 
was exhibited throughout the Association. 

Elm Fork Association held its first session after the 
close of the war with Rowlett's Creek church, in Collin 
county, in September, 1865. J. C. Partman was made 
Moderator, and R. F. Butler Clerk. The reports showed 
that the past year had been the most prosperous in the 
history of the Association, and much missionary work 
had been done. Two hundred and thirty-four had been 



By B. F. Fuller. 203 

received by baptism. At the meeting in 1866, with New 

Hope church, in Kaufman county, twenty-three churches 
were enrolled. In 1S6T the same number of churches 
sent messengers. At this session two missionaries were 
put in the field — J. F. Pinson and ilartin Epps. 
Throughout this entire period thU Association showed 
great activity and consequent prosperity in mission work. 
Not being able to mention all the assc Nations in de- 
tail, we have referred to these only as fair examples of 
the life manifest in all the associations throughout the 
State at this time. Soon after this the associations all 
over the State began to divide up to form County Asso- 
ciations, so that most of the old associations lost their 
identity. Xew churches multiplied greatly, rendering it 
impracticable to pursue further the individual history 
of associations, or church:-, except in a few instances 
of special interest. Xeither is it practicable to give 
biographical sketches of living ministers or laymen. 
Their work, however, will be freely mentioned, is it may 
form a part of the history of our denomination in the 
State. 



CHAPTER XX. 

THE BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION, FROM THE ORGANIZA- 
TION OE THE BAPTIST GENERAL ASSOCIATION, JULY 
17, 1868, TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF THESE 
GENERAL BODIES IN DECEMBER, 1885. 

Up to this point we have traced the history of Texas 
Baptists in epochs, combining together all departments 
of denominational interest of the same period. We shall 
now pursue in separate chapters the history of the great 
leading Baptist enterprises of our State. 

The Baptist State Convention held its first session 
after the organization of the General Association, at In- 
dependence, October 3 to 6, 1868, which was its twenty- 
first annual session. The introductory sermon was 
preached by S. C. Orchard. Twenty-seven churches and 
six associations sent messengers. H. L. Graves was made 
President, and 0. II. P. Garrett Corresponding Secre- 
tary. The missionary sermon was preached by J. Beall. 
On Monday morning H. Clark resigned as Eecording 
Secretary, and H. F. Buckner was elected in his place. 
The Board of Trustees of the Convention reported that 
$850 had been collected from the Vickers fund, and the 
balance of the $2,500 satisfactorily secured. The gen- 
eral agent, J. W. D. Creath, reported work done by him 
as follows: Twelve hundred and sixty-six sermons 
preached ; two hundred and seventy baptized ; seven 
churches organized; $761 .25 cash and $1,150 in pledges 

(204) 



By B. F. Fuller. 205 

raised by missionaries on the field. Reports were made 
on ministerial education, religious books and periodicals, 
colored population, foreign missions and Sunday schools. 

The twenty-second annual session met in Galveston, 
October 2, 1869. Twenty-three churches and ten asso- 
ciations sent messengers. The old officers were contin- 
ued, except H. Clark was made Corresponding Secretary." 
The reports showed one hundred and fifty-six baptisms, 
and $1,143.25 cash, which had been collected, and $600 
in pledges. The committee appointed at the last session 
on the organization of an Educational Convention re- 
ported, favoring such an enterprise, and a date was set 
for its organization. Up to this time the Convention 
had only done mission work through the district asso- 
ciations, but now the Convention returned to the money 
basis of membership, and determined that its mission- 
aries should be directly under its management, and paid 
directly by its board. The removal of the Baylor schools 
from Independence was discussed with some warmth at 
this session. It was contended that, inasmuch as the 
unwise policy pursued by the citizens of Independence 
and Washington towards the railroad had resulted in 
having these towns many miles off the road, Inde- 
pendence would remain inaccessible, and become a dead 
town. The Convention, however, adopted a resolution, 
"That it is inexpedient to consider the question of re- 
moval." The Treasurer's report showed $1,787.12 col- 
lected, and $255.75 more was collected during the ses- 
sion. 

The twenty-third session met at Brenham in Oc- 
tober, 1870. Twenty-seven churches and six associations 
were enrolled. The same officers were held over. It was 



206 History of Texas Baptists. 

resolved to continue to extend aid to associations asking 
for it through their boards. Again the Convention de- 
clared against the removal of the schools from Inde- 
pendence. General Agent J. W. D. Creath, in addition to 
his general work for the Convention, had also been en- 
gaged in the special work of raising funds for a church 
and lot in San Antonio, and reported £1,195.45 raised 
for the general work, and $1,020 for San Antonio. The 
Corresponding Secretary in his report gave the following 
history of the work of the Convention from its organiza- 
tion to the present time : "Seventy missionaries have been 
employed : ninety-five churches organized ; one hun- 
dred and twenty-five feeble churches aided: seven asso- 
ciations organized: secured the erection of fifty-five 
meeting houses: the ordination of sixty-five deacons and 
twenty ministers: her missionaries have baptized about 
four thousand, and have organized seventy-five Sunday- 
schools. The total collections by the agents of the Con- 
vention is $35, '». and through co-operating associations 
'00, making a grand total of $80,000." 

The twenty-fourth annual session met at Bryan in 
1871. About the usual number of churches were en- 
rolled, together with ten annual members. TV. C. Crane 
was made President, and G. TV. Graves was elected Cur- 
responding Secretary. The usual routine business was 
gone through, and the same reports from the various 
committees were disposed of. 

The twenty-fifth annual session met at Independence 
in October. 1872, with twenty-seven churches and one 
association co-operating. TV. C. Crane was continued 
President, and TV. TV. Fountain was made Correspond- 
ing Secretary. But little had been done towards aiding 



By B. F. Fuller. 207 

district associations. The financial agent, J. W. D. 
Creath, had collected for the Convention $861.30. and 
for the church in San Antonio $470.25, besides small 
amounts for foreign missions and some for education. 

The twenty-sixth annual session was convened at 
Austin, November 15, 1873. The Convention was to 
have met at Huntsville, but the change in the time and 
place had doubtless been made on account of the prev- 
alence of the yellow fever. The old officers were re- 
elected for the most part. The report of the Correspond- 
ing Secretary showed an unusual amount of work done 
during the previous year, the students of Baylor having 
assisted in missionary work during their vacation. 
Among these were M. M. Haggard, C. B. Hollis, J. M. 
Carroll and George W. Baines, Jr. Creath had resigned 
as financial agent to give his whole time to raising funds 
for a church building for the San Antonio church. 
Brother Creath, on retiring, made a report, in which he 
stated that missionaries of the board had, since the 
organization of the Convention in 1848, organized one 
hundred and fifteen churches and baptized seven thou- 
sand persons. 

The twenty-seventh annual session was held in Gal- 
veston in October, 1871. Twenty-three churches and 
two associations sent messengers. The same officers vrere 
continued. One missionary only had been employed the 
year before, but several district associations had been 
aided. The Treasurer had received during the year 
$1,050.50. 

Twenty-eighth Session. — The Convention met in 1875 
at Calvert in October, with about the usual number of 
churches co-operating. W. C. Crane was elected Presi- 



208 History of Texas Baptists. 

dent, 0. H. P. Garrett Eecording Secretary, and H. 
Clark Corresponding Secretary. As the Baptists of the 
United States, by common consent, had proposed to 
celebrate the centennial of religions liberty by raising a 
memorial fund in behalf of higher edncation, a special 
committee on credential work was appointed by the Con- 
vention, and the following resolution was adopted : "Re- 
solved, That we most heartily approve the resolution of 
the Educational Convention, assembled at Bremond, 
Texas, June 23, to raise $250,000 to establish and en- 
dow one institution of higher learning for the State of 
Texas, being located by the donors when the money is 
raised.'' The Treasurer's report showed $1,458.55 re- 
ceived. A committee was appointed to confer with the 
colored Baptist ministers of the State with reference to 
the appointment of an evangelist among their people. 

Twenty-ninth Annual Session. — The Convention met 
in 1876 at Independence on the 30th day of September. 
Twenty-one churches and four associations were en- 
rolled. The old officers were re-elected, except F. Kiefer 
was made Corresponding Secretary. A special commit- 
tee was appointed to inquire into the condition of the 
San Antonio mission. The board of the Convention was 
instructed to inaugurate mission work among the Mexi- 
cans of West Texas and of Mexico. The committee on 
the San Antonio mission reported the house not yet in 
a condition for occupancy, and $1,000 was yet needed to 
complete it; $1,000 had been paid for a lot, and $9,000 
on the church building and parsonage, making the total 
amount collected and paid out by the special agent, J. 
W. D. Creath, $10,000. He had received for his services 
for the two years he had been engaged in the work $800, 



By B. F. Fuller. 20£> 

and for traveling expenses, stationery, etc., $700. This 
work had been done independent of the Convention, but 
San Antonio was now taken under the special patron- 
age of the Convention, and an effort was to be at once 
made to assist Brother Creath in raising the $1,000 still 
needed. 

The thirtieth annual session was held at Bryan in 
October, 1877, with messengers from thirty-eight 
churches. The old officers were re-elected. On Satur- 
day night there was a missionary mass-meeting, and 
$1,416.75 was raised in cash and pledges. George W. 
Pickett had been appointed General Financial Agent, 
and reported $869 collected. F. J. Gleiss and F. Kiefer 
were missionaries to the German population. The Con- 
vention raised in cash and pledges at this session for all 
purposes $7,500. W. H. Dodson was at San Antonio, 
and reported that $1,800 was needed to complete the 
work there. 

. Thirty-first Annual Session. — It was at Lagrange 
that this session convened in October, 1878, with about 
the usual attendance. The old officers were continued, 
except Pinckney Hawkins was made Corresponding Sec- 
retary. A Sunday-school mass-meeting was held at 
night, and $221 was raised to pay W. D. Powell, Sunday- 
school missionary. The Treasurer's report showed $2,- 
547.50 received from all sources during the year, and 
$1,824 was raised during the session for missionary 
work. 

Thirty-second Annual Session. — The session of 1879 
assembled at Independence, and forty-seven church eg 
and five associations were enrolled. The same officers 
were carried over. Brethren Creath, Kiefer, ITausler, 



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By B.F. Fuller. 211 

board of the Society, fix their fields, service and c 
pensation. and the Society should appoint theru if ap- 
proved, their commissions to be titled "The A. B. H. M. 
Society in eo-operation with the Texas Bapris: State 

Convention." (3) Ail raissim^n-rs were to make quarter- 
ly reports in duplicate to the board of the Society and to 
the board of the _ vention. (4) A general mission 
or superintendent, to be appointed as provided in No. 2 . 
to be joint representative of the Convention and the 
Society, whose work was defined and who had to make 
a quarterly report in duplicate also. a The Society to 
appropriate for work in Texas one dollar for every dollar 
raised in the State for missionary work, but not exceed- 
ing S . foi the year beginning October 1, 1881. (6) 
Salaries to be paid by the Society quarterly on reception 
of satisfy;:;: : fports, and on payment of the Conven- 
tion's quota for that period. (7) Tha: missionary con- 
tributions be made directly :: these bodies from the field 
of the Convention. (&) Applications for aid from the 
church edifice fund of the Society were to be indor-rd 
by the board of the Convention. A mass-meeting was 
held on Sunday afternoon and $.2,415 was pledged for 
this work. The death of Brother Creath was reported 
by the Corresponding Secretary. 

Thirty-fifth Session. — The Convention met in IS 5 2 
at Belton, with messengers from seventy-two churches 
and twelve association-. 0. C. ? . C orresponding Sec- 
retary and Superintendent of Missions, reported that he 
had traveled twenty thousand, three hundred mi 
preached one hundred and fifty-six sermons, delivered 
one hundred and fcl iree addresses, organized 

churches at El Paso. Abilene and Laredo, and had twen- 



212 History of Texas Baptists. 

ty missionaries in the field. He had collected for all 
purposes $3,378.30. The board reported thirteen 
churches organized, four ' houses built at mission sta- 
tions, and one hundred and fifty-one baptisms. Sunday 
afternoon a mass-meeting in the interest of missions 
was held, and pledges to the amount of $2,225 were 
taken. At night a sermon on foreign missions was 
preached by B. H. Carroll, and $740 was pledged for this 
work. Dr. I. T. Tichenor, on behalf of the Home Mis- 
sion Board, presented to the Convention a proposition to 
give the Convention $3,000 for mission work in the State. 
on condition that the Convention would supplement the 
same by $1,500, which proposition was accepted by the 
Convention. The Treasurers report gave the following 
itemized account of collections : Mexican missions, $517; 
foreign missions, $2,693 . 30 ; ministerial education, 
$301.35; Bishops' College, $310.45; Baylor University, 
$43; German missions, $335.10; State missions, $14,- 
641 . 95 ; making a total of $18,842 . 26. After discharg- 
ing all liabilities the Convention had on hand in cash and 
pledges about $3,000. 

Thirty-sixth Annual Session. — This session met in 
San Antonio in October, 1883, with sixty-six churches 
and fourteen associations co-operating. The old officers 
were retained. The Mayor and Superintendent of Pub- 
lic Instruction of the city of Saltillo, Mexico, were in- 
troduced to the Convention by W. D. Powell, now of 
Mexico. He stated that they offered to the Baptists val- 
uable properties in that city for an orphanage and for a 
school for the higher education of women. The propo- 
sition was commended to the earnest consideration of the 
Foreign Mission Board at Richmond, pledging earnest 



By B. F. Fuller. 213 

co-operation. On Sunday afternoon there was a mis- 
sionary mass-meeting, and $2,747 was pledged. The 
Corresponding Secretary reported thirty-seven mission- 
aries employed, and that there had been five hundred and 
fifty-six baptisms and nine buildings erected. The 
Treasurer's report foots up $32,803.32 received during 
the year, including many items not strictly the work of 
the Convention, but within its bounds. No such year's 
work had ever been done before in Texas. 

Thirty-seventh Annual Session. — This session was 
held at Waxahachie in October, 1884, with messengers 
from fifty-eight churches and eleven associations. In 
one respect this was a departure from former meetings 
of the Convention. It was outside the territory of the 
churches heretofore co-operating with the Convention, 
and almost in the center of boundaries claimed by the 
General Association. The Superintendent of Missions 
showed by his report that $4,308.79 had been collected 
for State missions, $57.30 for Powell's church in 'Mex- 
ico, $158.20 for foreign missions, $3,938.81 for church 
building in Monterey, in Mexico. Thirty-five mission- 
aries had been employed, ten churches had been organ- 
ized, and four hundred and seventy-three had been re- 
ceived by baptism. On Sunday afternoon a Sunday- 
school mass-meeting was called, and $4,430 was pledged 
for this work. The Treasurer's report showed $19,000 
raised for State missions, which included $3,000 from 
the Home Mission Board, and $3,000 from the Atlanta 
Board. The Trustees reported that the permanent fund 
was yielding in interest about $1,000 per annum. 

Thirty-eighth Annual Session. — The Convention met 
in 1885 at Lampasas in October, and was the last session 



214 History of Texas Baptists. 

of this body, as well as the largest ; and, as appeared by 
the reports, it had been by far the most prosperous year. 
One hundred and ten churches and twenty associations, 
one German Conference and one Anna Luther Society 
were enrolled. The death of the President, C. C. Chap- 
lin, "was reported, and the Convention was called to order 
by J. H. Stribling. F. M. Law was elected President, 
0. H. P. Garrett Recording Secretary, and G. B. Davis 
Treasurer; R. Andrews, M. V. Smith and J. H. Strib- 
ling, Vice Presidents. W. R. Maxwell was made Corre- 
sponding Secretary and Superintendent of Missions. 0. 
C. Pope, Superintendent of Missions for the last year, 
reported that the house at Monterey, Mexico, had been 
finished and seated at a cost of $5,175.54. It was the 
first Baptist house of worship in Mexico, and was mainly 
the result of the untiring labors of 0. C. Pope. The 
board in their report make the following summary of 
the work done : "Missionaries employed, forty-six ; weeks 
of labor, sixteen hundred and thirty-one; sermons 
preached, fifty-seven thousand and sixty-four; visits, 
ten thousand, six hundred and sixty; baptisms, eight 
hundred and twenty-seven ; received by letter, nine hun- 
dred and thirty-four; and churches organized, nine- 
teen." The co-operation with the Home Mission Society 
and the Atlanta Board had been harmonious and satis- 
factory. Before closing, the following preamble and 
resolution was adopted by the Convention: 

"Whereas, a desire has been widely expressed for the 
consolidation of our missionary bodies in this State, 
therefore be it 

"Resolved. That a committee of five be appointed to 
confer with any like committee that may have been, or 



By B. F. Fuller. 215 

may hereafter be, appointed by the other bodies, and re- 
port some suitable expression from this body on this 
subject." 

In the afternoon on Sunday was held a mass-meeting 
in the interest of State missions, and $8,000 was pledged 
for this work. There were suitable and impressive me- j 
morial services in memory of Dr. W. C. Crane and C. C. ' 
Chaplin.. The committee heretofore appointed to con- 
sider the proposition to provide relief for old and dis- 
abled ministers reported, recommending the creation of 
a special board, to be known as the Board of Relief for 
Disabled Ministers, and recommended that the board be 
composed of eleven members, and be located at Lam- 
pasas. The Treasurer's report gave an itemized sum* 
mary of the money collected, as follows: Foreign mis- 
sions, $4,618.20; German missions, $2,029.18; Mon- 
terey, San Saba and Hempstead houses, $1,269.95; min- 
isterial education, $3,665; State missions, $18,162.21; 
total, $29,744.52. G. W. Smith, Chairman of the com- 
mittee appointed on the consolidation of the general 
bodies, submitted the following report: 

"The Baptist State Convention having considered 
the importance of consolidating our general bodies, and 
believing that the interest of our educational and mis- 
sionary work, as well as the peace, harmony and pros- 
perity of the denomination in the State will be promoted 
thereby, we announce our readiness to meet like com- 
mittees from the General Association and the East Texas 
Convention for the purpose of securing organic unity 
on terms of equity and fairness to all parties, and we 
hereby authorize our committee to meet with a commit- 
tee for like purpose from the bodies named, and to enter 



216 History of Texas Baptists. 

upon terms of consolidation; and if these terms are in- 
dorsed by these bodies, or either of them, the same to be 
reported back to this body for ratification." 

Owing to an epidemic of dengue fever in Lampasas 
the Convention adjourned on Monday night without 
completing its business, but turned over all unfinished 
business to the Board of Directors. This board held a 
brief meeting Tuesday morning, and adjourned to meet 
at Brenham, October 21, with the committee of fifteen 
appointed on the consolidation of the schools. At Bren- 
ham a resolution was adopted asking the General Asso- 
ciation to have a called session as early as practicable 
and appoint a committee fully authorized to co-operate 
with the committee of the Convention in carrying out the 
work of the consolidation. The President of the General 
Association, Hon. L. L. Foster, accordingly called that 
body together at Dallas, November 25, 1885. The Gen- 
eral Association at this meeting appointed a committee 
of conference, with full power to act on consolidation. 
This committee appointed December 9, to meet at Tem- 
ple, with the committee from the Convention. These 
committees accordingly met at Temple at the time ap- 
pointed. Dr. W. H. Trollinger was made Chairman, and 
M. V. Smith Secretary. A committee of five from each 
general body was appointed to prepare a basis of con- 
solidation. This committee made the following report, 
which was adopted : 

"We, your committee, believing that the consolida- 
tion of the general bodies is desirable, recommend: 

"First — That the Baptist General Association of 
Texas be consolidated with the Baptist State Convention 
of Texas. 



By B. F. Fuller. 217 

"Second — That the name of the consolidated body 
shall be The Baptist General Convention of Texas. 

"Third — That the basis of representation in the first 
meeting of the consolidated body shall be the same as 
heretofore. Those coming from the State Convention 
territory enter the consolidated body on the same terms 
they formerly entered the State Convention, and those 
from the General Association have membership on the 
same terms on which they formerly entered that body. 

"Fourth — That the mission work be continued until 
the first meeting as heretofore under the direction of the 
two bodies respectively, and be reported to that meeting. 

"Fifth — That the first meeting of the consolidated 
body be held at "Waco, beginning on Tuesday before the 
first Sunday in July, 1886." 

S. A. Hayden offered the following resolution, which 
was adopted: 

"Resolved, That the language used in the consolida- 
tion of the general bodies was an accommodation to the 
legal status of affairs, and not in any sense to be con- 
strued as an invasion of the equality of the two bodies 
entering into the consolidation." 

From an inspection of the reports as published in the 
minutes it appears that from the organization of the 
Convention in 1848 to its last meeting in October, 1885, 
thirty-seven years, there were about four thousand, six 
hundred baptisms resulting from the work of the Conven- 
tion, one hundred and twenty-six churches organized, 
and about fifty Sunday-schools organized. Besides this, 
much valuable work was done through associations that 
was never reported, which, if known, would perhaps 
double this list. In collating the great work of the 



s:s 



History of Texas Baptists. 



tbe valuable educational work done by this body throngm 
Baylor University and Baylor Female College, and that 



a':-:-i: SICS.^-: _^1 :. 



... 



i^ 



rv .--.rk. 




DR. R. C. BUCKNER, 

SUPERINTENDENT OF HFCKXER'S ORPHAN HOME. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

THE BAPTIST GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, FROM 
ITS ORGANIZATION, JULY 17, 1868, TO ITS CON- 
SOLIDATION WITH THE BAPTIST STATE 
CONVENTION IN DECEMBER, 1885. 

As we have already seen in a former chapter the Bap- 
tist Convention of Eastern Texas, in 1867, determined 
to change to a General Association, and appointed a 
meeting at Chatfield, in Navarro county, July 17, 1868, 
to complete the organization. At this meeting sixteen 
churches and two associations were present. General 
Jos. E. Harrison was elected President; R. C. Buckner, 
Corresponding Secretary; J. T. Hand, Recording Sec- 
retary; J. W. Speight, Treasurer; and W. B. Eeather- 
stone, W. C. Buck and W. G. Caperton, Vice Presidents. 

A committee was appointed to prepare a constitu- 
tion. The report of this committee was made next morn- 
ing, presenting a constitution, which was adopted. By 
the terms of this constitution this body was to be called 
"The Baptist General Association of Texas,"' and it con- 
templated the appointment of two or more boards. Un- 
der this authority a Missionary Board, a Bible, Colport- 
age and Educational Board, and a Sunday-school Board 
were appointed. The Sunday-school Board was located 
at Marshall, the Missionary Board at Ladonia, and the 
other board at Waco. On Sunday Dr. P. C. Burleson 
preached a memorial sermon on the death of D. B. Mor- 
(219) 



220 History of Texas Baptists. 

reU, former President of the Convention of Eastern 
Texas. 

The second annual session was held at Tyler, July 
23, I860. Messengers from thirty-nine churches and 
eleven associations were enrolled. A. E. Clemmons was 
elected President; J. T. Hand, Recording Secretary: and 
George Yarbrough, Treasurer. The usual committees 
were appointed, and the Missionary Board reported that 
R. C. Buckner had been employed as general agent with- 
out a fixed salary. Xine missionaries had been in the 
field, depending for a support on their own collections. 
One hundred and fifty-nine baptisms were reported, three 
churches had been organized, and $851.65 collected. 

The third session met at Paris in July, 1870. Thir- 
ty-eight churches and four associations were enrolled. 
Tlie officers of the last session were re-elected. The 
Missionary Board reported that their general agent, R. 
C. Buckner, had resigned, after five months' service. 
The Sunday-school Board reported $233.34 worth of 
books on hand. The Committee on Home Missions made 
a strong appeal in their report, and $1,000 was pledged 
for that work. 

The fourth annual session convened at Fairfield, July 
21. 1871. There was some complaint that this was an in- 
vasion of the territory of the Baptist State Convention. 
Twenty-seven churches and six associations sent mes- 
sengers. General J. W. Speight was elected President, 
and other old officers were continued. The Missionary 
Board reported that T. B. McComb had been appointed 
General Agent, at a salary of $1,200. At this session 
this hoard was located at Tyler. At the last session the 
Sundav-school Board was located at Jefferson, but made 



By B. F. Fuller. 221 

no report. On Monday Dr. J. R. Graves arrived and 
was invited to a seat as a visitor. He explained the plan 
proposed by the enterprise he was representing, called 
the Southern Baptist Publication Society, and on motion 
of Dr. R. C. Burleson the same was approved and recom- 
mended to the churches ; but George Yarbrough and W. 
H. Parks asked and obtained leave that their protest 
against the indorsement of this enterprise be entered on 
the minutes. 

Fifth Session. — This session was held at Rowlett's 
Creek, in Collin county, in July, 1872. Forty churches 
and eight associations co-operated in this meeting. The 
old officers were continued. But little had been done 
in any department during the year, and the Correspond- 
ing Secretary, in his report, greatly lamented this in- 
activity. The location of the Missionary Board was 
moved to Dallas, and the Sunday-school Board to Tyler. 
A plan for missionary work was adopted at this session, 
directing that subscriptions be taken, to be paid annually, 
for five years, and that locnl conventions be organized, 
through which a part of this work was to be done, thus 
enlisting the whole membership of the churches in mis- 
sion work. J. B. Daniels was appointed the Financial 
Agent to carry out this plan, at a salary of $1,000. 

Sixth Annual Session. — The General Association 
met at Jefferson in 1873. Thirty churches and three 
associations were enrolled. The old officers were contin- 
ued, except Abram Weaver, who was made Correspond- 
ing Secretary, and J. T. S. Park, Treasurer. The Sun- 
day-school Board at this session was consolidated with 
the Missionary Board, and located at Dallas. The Mis- 
sionary Board reported that they had been working under 



222 History of Texas Baptists. 

the plan adopted at the last session, with J. B. Daniels 
as Financial Agent. He had secured pledges to the 
amount of $2,110, to be paid per annum for five years. 
Of this, however, but $398.25 had been collected, leaving 
$824.25 due Brother Daniels on his salary. Thirty-one 
baptisms were reported, and ten churches had been or- 
ganized. 

Seventh Session. — Dallas was the place of meeting 
in 1874. Messengers were present from seventy-four 
churches and nine associations. The last year's officers 
were retained, except Deacon W. L. Williams was made 
Treasurer. The Board for Missions and Sunday-schools 
reported that J. B. Daniels, the Financial Agent, had 
been hindered and his work cut short by the panic re- 
sulting from the yellow fever epidemic, and had re- 
signed. He had collected $245, though, before taking 
that step. That $517.95 was still due Brother Dan- 
iels, but no provisions seems to have been made to pay 
this. 

Eighth Session. — The Association held its meeting 
in 1875 at Sherman. Forty-four churches and six asso- 
| ciations sent messengers. The old officers were re-elected. 
A resolution was adopted to the effect that this Associa- 
tion should be composed .of messengers from churches 
regularly co-operating with this body, or entering by peti- 
tionary letter. This had the effect to cut off certain 
messengers coming from churches in the southern part 
of the State within the territory of the State Conven- 
tion. The report of the Committee on Home Missions 
showed that during the last nine years the Home Mis- 
sion Board had received from Texas $13,370.50, and 
had expended within this State $7,199. GG. The organ- 



By B. F. Fuller. 223 

ization of a General Sunday-school Association was 
recommended, and a meeting for this purpose was ap- 
pointed to meet at Longview on Friday before the first 
Sunday in November. It appears from the report that 
E. B. Hardie and J. E. Sligh had been appointed Gen- 
eral Agents, at a salary of $1,200 each, and E. C. Buck- 
ner had been appointed General Missionary. Hardie had 
devoted his whole time to the work, and had collected 
$1,242 . 60. Sligh had given only a part of his time, and 
had collected $567.45. There was a want of harmony 
and brotherly love manifested during this meeting that 
portended trouble, and was greatly deplored by the 
brethren. There were now two Baptist newspapers in 
the field within the State seeking the patronage of the 
General Association — the Eeligious Messenger and the 
Texas Baptist Herald. 

Ninth Session. — In 1876 the Association met at 
Waco. Forty-two churches and eleven associations were 
enrolled. R. C. Burleson was elected President; A. E. 
Clemmons, R. C. Buckner and B. H. Carroll, Vice Pres- 
idents; Abram Weaver, Corresponding Secretary; J. T. 
Hand, Recording Secretary; and J. W. Speight, Treas- 
urer. The report of the Missionary Board deplored a 
great failure in the work of the past year. Almost noth- 
ing had been collected, and the board still owed J. B. 
Daniels $381.35. As a Sunday-school Convention had 
been organized, the Committee on Sunday-schools was 
dropped. An amendment to the constitution was adopt- 
ed, limiting the membership of this body to three from 
each church. One of the greatest" revival meetings that 
had ever occurred in the State had been conducted bv 



224 History of Texas Baptists. 

Deacon W. E. Penn at Waco during the past year, re- 
sulting in one hundred and fifty-two baptisms. 

Tenth Session. — This session met at Paris in 1877, 
with fifty-four churches co-operating. The officers of the 
last session were continued, except S. J. Anderson was 
made Eecording Secretary, and R. C. Buckner, Corre- 
sponding Secretary. B. H. Carroll's report on the colored 
population was able and exhaustive, and was supported 
by a thrilling address of General S. B. Maxey, which 
was requested for publication. On Monday Dr. Sumner 
secured pledges for about $1,000 for the Southern Bap- 
tist Theological Seminary. A resolution was adopted 
restoring associations to the privilege of co-operating 
with this body by messengers. Brother Daniels pro- 
posed to release the Association from indebtedness to 
him for $100, but no action seems to have been taken 
on the proposition. The reports show but little work 
done during the year. 

Eleventh Annual Session. — In 1878 the General As- 
sociation met at Ft. Worth. The old officers were re- 
tained, except General S. B. Maxey was made one of 
the Vice Presidents. Messengers from eighty-two 
churches and ten associations composed the meeting. 
The Bible, Colportage and Educational Boards had 
done almost nothing. The Mission Board reported six 
churches and five Sunday-schools organized, and eighty- 
five baptisms and $1,039.85 collected. 

Twelfth Session. — The Association met at Pittsburg 
in 1879, with fifty-five churches and nine associations 
co-operating. The officers of the last session were con- 
tinued, except J. P. Rogers was made Treasurer. The 
reports of this session showed a very discouraging con- 



By B. F. Fuller. 225 

dition of the different departments of work. Nothing 
had been prosperous. Evidently there was great want 
of harmony and co-operation. Great complaints had 
been raised against the methods of the General Asso- 
ciation as being partisan, and too much dominated by 
Waco University and the paper now called the Texas 
Baptist. A meeting had been held at Piano on July 3. 
and resolutions voicing these complaints and this dis- 
satisfaction had been adopted; and J. H. Curry, from 
this meeting, presented these resolutions to the Associa- 
tion. The resolutions proposed radical changes, but none 
of these provisions were accepted by the Association. In 
view of certain complications affecting the work of the 
body, Dr. E. C. Burleson, President, issued a call for 
a special session of the General Association, which met 
at Dallas on the 24th day of February, 1880. The 
matter presented seemed to be principally of a personal 
nature, and no change was made in the organized work. 

Thirteenth Session. — The meeting in 1880 was at 
Ennis, with ninety-eight churches and seventeen asso- 
ciations. R. C. Buckner was elected President; S. J. 
Anderson, Recording Secretary; W. H. Parks, Corre- 
sponding Secretary ; and J. R. Rogers, Treasurer. A col- 
lection for missions was taken up on Saturday, and 
$102.25 in cash and $2,000 in pledges was raised. The 
Missionary Board reported seven hundred and eighty-one 
baptisms, sixteen churches constituted, twenty-three sta- 
tions supplied, sixty-four prayer-meetings organized, and 
$2,622.87 collected. 

Fourteenth Session. — In 1881 the Association met 
at Waco, and one hundred and eighty-one churches and 
eighteen associations sent messengers. The old officers 



History of Texas Baptists. 

were re-elected. The Mission Board reported twelve mis- 
sionaries employed, fonr hundred and twenty baptisms, 
eighteen ehnrehes constituted, and twenty-nine Sunday- 
schools organized. The board had disbursed for foreign 
missions in support of W\ B. Bagby, in Brazil, $±2 1 - 
for home missions, $1,016.60; and for Indian missions, 
$19. 

Fifteenth Session. — The Association met at Sulphur 
Springs in 18S2, with about two hundred and seventy- 
five messengers present. The old officers were continued. 
B. H. Carroll preached the introductory sermon. The 
board reported two hundred and forty-three bapt 
seventy stations supplied, forty-one prayer-meetings or- 
ganized, twelve churches constituted, and twenty-seven 
Sunday-schools organized. Pledges for nex ~ork 

were taken to the amount of $2,132 

S >enth Session. — I 188 tation met at 

Cleburne, with ninety-two churches and fourteen asso- 

ns enrolled. The old officers were continued 
cept A. J. Holt was made Corresponding Secretary, and 

s, Treasurer. The board reported tha~ 
teen missionaries had been employed, and t'r 
had been paid out to them for their services. There had 
been one hundred and fifty-five baptisms, five churches 
and nine Sunday-schools organized. A committee on 
itionship t^> Other Bodies" was appointed, with B. 
H. Carroll Chairman. He made an elaborate report, in 
which he recognized the subject as one of great difficulty ; 
that there was tl St Convention on the south, the 

b, and the Central T 
Convent ing in great measure undefined and 

nndefinable boundari— at associations have been 



By B. F. Fuller. 227 

divided in counsel, some rem assunder; churches have 
been torn by factions, and brethren alienated, and strife 
engendered. " A recommendation was made to send a 
committee to all these general bodies, with fraternal 
greeting, and confer with them on the subject of unifica- 
tion under the following heads: ''First — Is it desirable 
and expedient? Second — Is it practicable? Third — 
If so, under what form?" This report was 'adopted by 
the Association. "Waco University had been transferred 
by Waco Association to the General Association, and a 
proposition was made by the city of Waco to give $20,000 
to the building fund of the Universit} T , provided the Gen- . 
eral Association should raise a $G0,000 'endowment fund. 
A commission was appointed to raise the fund. It was 
reported to the Association that Waco was ready to per- 
form its part of the agreement so soon as the endowment 
fund should be raised. 

Seventeenth Session. — The meeting in 1884 was at 
Paris. Sixty-two churches and fifteen associations were 
enrolled. The old officers were continued. The board 
reported four hundred and thirty-five baptisms, seven 
hundred and thirty received by letter, twenty-four 
churches constituted, and twenty-four Sunday-schools 
organized; 283,251 pages of religious literature were dis- 
tributed; $8,534.33 collected for home missions, and 
$54.50 received or due from the Home Mission Board 
at Atlanta. It was reported to the Association that $5,- 
600, contributed at this meeting, completed the $60,000 
endowment fund for Waco University. 

Eighteenth Session. — The General Association met at 
Ennis in 1885, July 24, which was the last session of 
this body. There were ninety-one churches and twenty 



228 History of Texas Baptists. 

ciations enrolled. L. L. Foster was elected Presi- 
dent, and the other officers were continued as at the last 
session. The report of the Missionary Board showed that 
fifty-seven missionaries had been employed, eight hun- 
| dred and twenty-nine persons baptized, one thousand, 
j one hundred and sixty-three received by letter, fifty-one 
churches and eighty-nine Sunday school? organ 
ilected by missionaries on the field, and 
^ v had been received by the Superintendent of Mm- 
S. A. Hayden offered a preamble and resolution 
looking to the consolidation of the two universities un- 
-der the name of Baylor, with Dr. R. C. Burleson as 
Chancellor for life, proposing that a committee be ap- 
pointed to visit the S nvention to confer about 
the matter. T. S. Potts also offered a resolution, express- 
ing the desirableness of having but one missionary body 
in the State, and the willingness of this Association to 
:th other general bodies to this end. Borh 
hese resolutions were referred to a committee, which 
was then appointed, and were to be presented by 
them to the State Convention. The Board of Directors 
of the State Convention having requested that there be 
!led meeting of the Genera! Association, and that a 
committee be appointed, fully empowered to co-operate 
with the committee of the Convention in carrying out 
the work of consolidation. President L. L. Foster ac- 
ingly called the General Association to meet at Dal- 
V : 585 V this meeting two commit- 
• - of conference were appointed, one on consolidation of 
the general bodies, and the other on the consolidation 
of the schools. December was appointed for a meet- 
it Temple, in conjunction with the committee frmi 



By B. F. Fuller. 229 

the State Convention. These committees had full power 
to act on consolidation. At that meeting consolidation 
was fully affected on the terms set out in a former chap- 
ter. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THREE OTHER GENERAL MISSIONARY BODIES, FROM THEIR 
ORGANIZATION TO THEIR FINAL INCORPORA- 
TION WITH THE OTHER GENERAL BODY. 

The East Texas Baptist Convention. — A convention 
was called by some brethren in the eastern part of the 
State to meet at Overton on the 12th day of December, 
1877, to take into consideration the propriety of organ- 
izing a convention for missionary work in East Texas. 
There were at that meeting messengers from nineteen 
churches. A. E. Clemmons was chosen President, and 
George Yarbrough, Secretary. The supposed propriety 
and necessity for such an organization were set forth in 
a preamble and resolution presented to the meeting. 
After referring to the great destitution in East Texas 
and the undeveloped resources of the churches in that 
section, the following expressive language is used: 

"The strength and power of the two great mission- 
ary organizations in the State are directed to the supply 
and cultivation of other territory, and there exists the 
same necessity for the organization of a third body, as 
there ever did for the second; therefore, 

"Kesolved, That as the result of painful experience 
in the past, we now regard it as an inevitable necessity 
for us to do our own work in the best way we can, if 
we are ever to meet our obligations to Christ and our 
fellow-men. That we do now, in the fear of God, and 

(230) 



By B. F. Fuller. 23 L 

depending on Him for help, proceed to organize a gen- 
eral missionary body for Eastern Texas."' 

This was adopted, and a constitution was prepared, 
in which the object of the formation of the convention 
was declared to be "To encourage and foster the mis- 
sionary spirit in our churches, and develop the power 
and resources of this section of the State.''' A board was 
appointed, and W. 0. Baily was made Corresponding 
Secretary. 

In 1878 the co-operating churches had increased to 
thirty-two, and four missionaries had been at work, and 
$167.35 had been collected. 

In 1879, only twenty-four churches sent messengers. 
Only two or three missionaries had been at work. 

In 1880 fifty-six churches and three associations 
were enrolled. ISTine missionaries had been employed^ 
two hundred and ninety-three baptisms were reported, 
four churches had been constituted, and the Treasurer 
reported $535.35 received during the year. 

In 1881 twenty-two churches and two associations 
co-operated with the Convention. The board reported 
that eight missionaries had been at work; forty-two had 
been baptized, and one church and fifty-one Sunday- 
schools had been organized. The Treasurer's report 
showed $2,438 . 59 paid out during the year. 

In 1882 twenty-two churches and three associations 
were enrolled. There had been but forty-five baptisms; 
twenty-three Sunday-schools had been organized, and 
$2,603 . 94 had been paid out by the Treasurer. 

The sixth session met at Longview, July 13, 1883. 
Thirty-six churches, two associations and three Sunday- 
schools sent messengers. The board reported one hun- 



232 History of Texas Baptists. 

dred and forty-three baptisms, seventy-four Sunday- 
schools and seven churches organized. 

In 1884 the annual session was held at Tyler. Thir- 
ty-four churches, four associations, five Sunday-schools 
and one society had messengers present. Xo report of 
the board was published. 

The eighth session of the East Texas Baptist Con- 
vention met at Center in July, 1S85, which was the last 
meeting of this body. The proposition of a general con- 
solidation of all the general missionary bodies in the 
State was adopted, and the Convention resolved to dis- 
band and co-operate with the consolidated body. A. E. 
Clemmons, J. 11. Stribling, W. R. Maxwell, J. A. Kim- 
ball and W. H. Hendrix had served as Presidents, and 
George Yarbrough as Clerk during the entire existence 
of the Convention. 

Xorth Texas Baptist Missionary Convention. — This 
body was organized at Allen, October 19, 1879. A con- 
vention had been held at Piano in July by some dissatis- 
fied brethren, and some changes of procedure had been 
proposed to the General Association, to the end, as the 
resolution of that meeting expressed it, that this '"would 
enable all the brethren to co-operate with it.*' Those 
ehanges were not made by the General Association, and 
this organization was the result. An address to the 
churches and the brethren was issued, in which it was 
stated that this organization proposed not to interfere 
with any other enterprise, but to attend to its own busi- 
ness. 

In 1880 the board had expended about $436.95 in 
the work of the Convention. In 1881 $665 had been ex- 
pended. 



Bu B. F. Fuller.. 233 

In August, 1882 3 the Convention met at Weather- 
ford. Thirteen churches and two associations co-oper- 
ated; $527 . 60 had been expended in mission work. 

In 1883 twenty-two churches sent messengers. About 
$550 had been paid out for mission work. The Conven- 
tion met at Bell's this year, and it was its last meeting. 
The Convention recommended rches to send mes- 

sengers to the Baptist State Convention and co-opt 
with ly, and by a vote the Xorth Texas Baptist 

Missionary Convention was dissolv ad leased :: 
This Convention was desk" :il py l ^ e entire north- 

west part of the State, bnt it failed to secure the co- 
operation of churches and associations of this section. 

The Central T \ — On Novem- 

ber 1"2. 1880 3 mess _ rs from seventeen churches and 
one association, together with nine brethren not appoint- 
ed by any body, met at Dublin and organized a Conven- 
tion for Missionary and Sunday-school Work. They 
denominated it "The Central Texas Ban::-: Convention. 53 
P. B. Chandler was elected President, and Dr. S. G. 
O'Bryan. Secretary. 

In 1882 twenty-four churches and one associ 
co-operated : $349 had been collected and paid out for 
missionary work. 

In 1883 twenty-four churches and two associations 
sent messengers. The Treasurer had paid out $445. 

In 1884 the Convention met at Abilene, and P. B. 
Chandler was elected President, and S. G. O'Bryan, Sec- 
retary. The Treasurer had disbursed $206. 

The sixth and last session of this body me: at Hico 
in 1885. It accepted the proposition for consolidation. 






fcodjr. Tfee tesritoarjr &sgned to be 

to fc&e Ek> Gsnsfe Ut k fettel to 

~ ~ _ 



-r 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

OUB EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES, FROAI THE FORMATION 
. OF THE BAPTIST GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, 
JULY 17, 1868, TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF 
THE SCHOOLS IN DECEMBER, 1885. 

At the beginning of this period our educational in- 
terest in Texas was by no means encouraging. The 
jealousy and bitter antagonism between Baylor and Waco 
had been kept up so persistently, and was so much in 
evidence at all meetings, that the brethren generally had 
grown tired of it, and interest in the existing denomina- 
tional schools had greatly fallen off. A good deal was 
also said about this time about removing Baylor to a 
more suitable locality, as the railroads had left Inde- 
pendence high and dry, many miles away, making it in- 
accessible by the present mode of travel. Waco also 
seemed to be discouraged, and it was said that Dr. Burle- 
son himself was in doubt as to whether that was the best 
place to build up a great school. 

In 1869 the question of removal of Baylor came up 
in the State Convention, but Independence opposed it 
with such vigor that the Convention finally voted that 
removal was "impraetfcable now, or at any future time, 
and that it is inexpedient to consider the question." But 
this did not settle it by any means. Under the prevailing 
discouragements, the trustees and faculty of 'Waco, with 
(235) 



C; : f: : - _ .:■• z :.: .\- 






. . . 

_ 
- 
of them will betake- themselves where sodi provisions for 
tfeo r ) cLzb. culture ctm be £o an<L In oar opinion nothing 
wo al« I tend to so directly hurnionne and engender good 
feeling among oar widespread brotherfcood. and make 

• : . '. 

: : ' _ - Li _" .: .•..:.■..:. 'z i /f-z'rr. : ~ "' . ___* 

•i> " " : —i± zr -•; . - ■_t:i:- ■ : lz :■:•-:•: i:~. ::-":' :r-f 

-oliredV Hfeat we. the tT i Gentry of Waco 

_ . ._ _._ 

zTL. it: : -. _— __. '. -. . -- ■ "t -■"-. :'nz: 

ing op such an educational interest for oar d 



■ : - 

- 

leetual center, let it be located where it may.*" 



The General Association. ^saon in I>>\ at 

- - ' " ' : •"• :• -< " _ •_:::-. : -b:± . — ■■•"■". 

:« - : ■<-- ••"- _ : --.•-■ : ":■' ."• " : - r 17 : z"--\-. 

■ — l* - '~ 1 '. :-. Tri - .-. : il ■ j ■" :• -" " "-j^ - - - 

ifiols were not cwn- 

~:.:'" " ~- "r- r-fv'zi" fz . ■ - ■ .- i:t-t-i :? pi:- 

- - - I .'•;: t: ::"-•:- ------ -■ i -, - -^ - - _- 



By B. F. Fuller. 237 

ham, to arrange for a general meeting of the denomina- 
tion in the State to establish "one great school for the 
State." A general meeting was appointed for Wednes- 
day before the second Sunday in December, 1870, at 
Bremond. This movement was opposed at the meeting 
by both Baylor and Waco, and the meeting adjourned to 
the next session of the General Association at Fairfield 
in 1871. 

At this Fairfield meeting a resolution was adopted 
to the effect that it was desirable to organize "The 
Educational Union" when $10,000 should be sub- 
scribed. This was raised on the spot, and a meet- 
ing was appointed for August 3, 1872, at Bryan, to 
organize. A charter was secured, and agents were put 
in the field to raise $200,000, and when this amount 
should be raised the donors were to locate the school. A 
meeting was called for June 23, 1875, at Bremond, to 
take some steps to participate in the great centennial 
movement in the Xorthern States in the interest of edu- 
cation, and to utilize the same in the interest of Baptist 
education in Texas. 

At this meeting Dr. J. H. Stribling was made Pres- 
ident, «and J. M. Lewis and G. W. Baines, Jr., Secretaries. 
Baylor and Waco both had strong representatives on the 
ground, and Dallas College and the Educational Union 
also were represented. It was at once very much in evi- 
dence that there was so much jealousy and rivalry be- 
tween the different interests and schools that the work 
before the meeting was a difficult one. Finally a proposi- 
tion was adopted that the representatives of each of these 
four interests appoint three members, and the President 
of the Convention three, making a committee of fifteen. 



238 History of Texas Baptists. 

which should report to the meeting some plan of pro- 
cedure. The following morning this committee made 
their report, which contained substantially the following 
provisions : 

That a central committee of thirty, to be known as 
the Central Baptist Educational Commission of Texas, 
be appointed to raise $250,000. That when $100,000 
shall have been raised the school is to be located. That 
no impediment is to be thrown in the way of any agent 
of existing schools. 

This document seemed to meet the approval of all the 
varied educational interests, and was adopted almost 
unanimously. The commission was organized as provid- 
ed. Its meetings were to correspond with the meetings 
of the State Convention and General Association. An 
Executive Board of twelve was appointed. The first 
meeting after organization was held at Sherman, July 
24, 1ST 5, at the meeting of the General Association, but 
there was not a quorum present. 

At the meeting of the State Convention at Calvert, 
October 2, 1875, the commission met and adopted regu- 
lations and by-laws, and it was announced that a charter 
had been procured. F. M. Law was elected Financial 
Secretary. A meeting was held at Bremond, January 
6, 1876, at which agents were allowed ten per cent, com- 
mission. A full statement of assets seems not to have 
been made until the meeting of October, 1877, when the ' 
total assets were reported to be $80,000. No other full 
financial statement was made until January 1G, 1884, at 
Bremond, when the total amount of assets was reported 
to be $107,215, of which $6,441 .35 had been used in the 
work. 



By B. F. Fuller. 239 

The Financial Agent had been greatly hindered in 
active work for several years by family afflictions, and 
many had become discouraged, and began to doubt final 
success. The existing schools had become very active, 
and had financial agents in the field, and it began to be 
discussed whether the work should be pressed to final 
success or leave it where it was, so that as much as pos- 
sible might be turned over to the existing schools. There 
began also to be much talk of the consolidation of exist- 
ing schools, and the commission had no other meeting. 
The commission, Without doubt, accomplished a valuable 
work for Texas Baptists, by arousing them on the subject 
of education, and emphasizing the importance and neces- 
sity of consolidation, and doubtless had much to do in 
leading up to the final consolidation in 1886. 

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY. 

Baylor received almost no support or patronage with- 
in the bounds of the General Association from its organi- 
zation in 1848 throughout its whole existence. The Uni- 
versity conferred the degree of A. B. on Daniel Mclntyre 
and Charles Judson Crane in 1869, and the honorary de- 
gree of D. D. on Rev. YVm. Howard, A. Paul Repito, A. 
W. Chambliss and H. F. Buckner. In 1870 the Presi- 
dent, Dr. Crane, was directed to spend as much time in 
increasing the endowment as practicable. President Crane 
made a full report of cash collected since 1863, which 
was less than $4,000. There had been about sixty stu- 
dents at the University during the past year. 

In 1875 S. S. Cross and T. J. Chandler were ap- 
pointed agents of the University. In 1878 Chandler was 



240 History of Texas Baptists. 

elected Professor of Natural Science and English Liter- 
ature, and the degree of A. M. was conferred on him. 
Special efforts were now to be made to secure funds to 
complete the main building, and the friends of the Uni- 
versity were requested to act as voluntary agents for this 
purpose. In 1879 it was determined that the Treasurer 
hereafter should have no compensation for receiving and 
paying out money. A contract was made with W. Holmes 
to complete the walls of the main building. 

In May, 1880, eleven students appealed to the Board 
of Trustees from a decision of the faculty. They had 
made a formal application for an honorable discharge, 
but were refused. The trustees sustained the faculty. 
The students, however, refused to concur, and were ex- 
pelled by the .board on the 8th day of June, 1880. 

The financial pressure was so great in 1881 that the 
board employed Eev. H. Nabering agent, on the terms 
that he should receive one-third of all sums coming into 
the treasury through his solicitation, and the same terms 
were extended to President Crane in 1882. No institu- 
tion could stand such a strain long. The endowment 
fund had been mostly borrowed by the trustees to com- 
plete the building. Professor Wedemeyer resigned on 
account of insufficient compensation. 

In November, 1883, George B. Davis was appointed 
to secure endowments at a salary of $1,500 and ex- 
penses, and the agency of Nabering was discontinued. 
In 1884 Gen. A. T. Hawthorne and O. C. Pope were ap- 
pointed special agents, on the terms that they receive a 
commission of thirty-three and one-third per cent. The 
University had for a number of years pursued the very 
questionable policy of conferring honorary degrees pro- 




R. C. BURLESON, D. D.,LL. D, 



By B. F. Fuller. 241 

raiscuously, by way of compliment to men disconnected 
with the school, and, in many instances, not citizens of 
the State. This had the effect to cheapen the honors of 
the University, and had, to some extent, compromised the 
high standard of scholarship, that should have been main- 
tained at all hazards. These honorary titles can only be 
indulged in with propriety in very special cases, and then 
very cautiously, by an institution of learning. 

Dr. Crane had now been President of the University 
for twenty-two years. He had devoted his great learning 
and rare gifts, as well as his money, to build up Baylor 
at Independence, but he had been stemming an adverse 
tide all the time. When he took charge of the school in 
1863 it was a time of all others the most unpropitious. 
From the time Dr. Burleson and the entire faculty re- 
signed, and went to Waco in 1861, the University was 
looked upon by a great many as virtually dead. The 
general interest of the public had become weak, and 
Waco was a rival for the denominational patronage. Dr. 
Crane threw all the force of his finished scholarship and 
strong character into the long, hard struggle for Baylor 
at Independence, and if it was not a final success, he can- 
not be charged with fault. Through all these years of 
toil and trial he labored and hoped, until the summons 
came from his Heavenly Father for an eternal rest. 

William Carey Crane, A. M., A. B., D. D. and LL. D. ; 
died on the 27th day of February, 1885.. The Board of 
Trustees met on the 4th day of March and adopted suit- 
able resolutions in his memory, and elected Eev. Eedin 
Andrews President. In addition to his labors at the 
University, Dr. Crane was President of the State Conven- 
tion from 1871 to 1880, besides filling other places of 



24:2 History of Texas Baptists. 

honor. His literary labors were also unremitting. Sev- 
eral works of merit were published by him, among which 
-was a "Life of Sam Houston." He educated many 
young men for the ministry, and w T as most of the time 
pastor of the Independence church. Dr. Crane rests in 
the old graveyard at Independence, but his works and 
influence live. 

President Andrews made a report to the trustees on 
the third day of the following June, showing sixty-four 
students enrolled, and an average daily attendance of 
forty. The trustees made no provision to pay teachers, 
and none were employed. T. J. Chandler soon presented 
his resignation. 

The Boards of Trustees of the University and Baylor 
Female College held a joint meeting, and strong reso- 
lutions against the proposed removal of the schools were 
presented and discussed. It was finally referred to a 
meeting to be held at Brenham on the 16th. At this 
meeting a substitute was offered, recognizing the removal 
as a painful necessity. The whole matter was then re- 
ferred to the Baptist State Convention, which met at 
Lampasas in October. There was another meeting Oc- 
tober 2 at Lampasas, and the question of removal was 
again discussed and again referred to the State Conven- 
tion. The Convention met at Lampasas on the 3d day 
of October, 1885, at which the folllowing was adopted: 

"Whereas, there has been much agitation in the 
bounds of this Convention on the subject of the removal 
of Baylor University from Independence, therefore, 

"Resolved, Thai this matter be placed before the 
Convention for the action of said body on the question/' 



By B. F. Fuller. 243 

The Convention therefore appointed a committee for 
this purpose, which was also to include Baylor Female 
College. This committee recommended that ''These in- 
stitutions be removed to some more eligible locality, and 
that a committee of fifteen be appointed to take into con- 
sideration this whole matter of removal and location, 
and all questions that may arise pertaining thereto, in 
conjunction with the boards of the two schools; that they 
take at once such steps as may be necessary to the earliest 
practicable accomplishment of this important work, and 
that the schools remain at Independence at least this 
year, but that everything should be ready for opening 
at the new location, or locations, by September, 1886 ; 
and that the present buildings, grounds, libraries, ap- 
paratus and furniture be tendered 'to the Union Asso- 
ciation for educational purposes, to be maintained at 
Independence: that the endowment already raised be 
subject to the will of the donors, to remain with the 
schools at Independence, or be carried with the univer- 
sity and college to the new location: any endowment, the 
donors of which are dead, shall be left with the schools 
at Independence." 

The committee of fifteen was appointed as recom- 
mended. A. W. Dunn. Chairman of this committee, 
presented the following report to the Convention: 

"Your Committee on Consolidation of Educational 
Interests of the Baptists of Texas beg leave to report that 
it is the sense of this Convention that the consolidation 
of our institutions of learning is desirable, and that we 
will consider any proposition that may be presented on 
the basis of fairness and equality to all parties inter- 
ested; and we recommend the reference of this question 



244 History of Texas Baptists. 

*to the committee of fifteen already appointed, in con- 
nection with the Board of Trustees of Baylor Univer- 
sity and Baylor Female College." 

On the 21st of October, 1885, this committee of fif- 
teen met at Brenham with the Board of Directors of the 
State Convention and the Trustees of Baylor University 
and Baylor Female College. The trustees of the two 
schools held separate meetings, and each board acquiesced 
in the action of the Convention as to removal. The Con- 
vention requested the General Association to appoint a 
committee fully authorized to co-operate with the com- 
mittee of the Convention in carrying out this work of 
consolidation. The General Association accordingly ap- 
pointed a Committee on Consolidation of Schools, De- 
cember 9, 1886, for a meeting at Temple. This meeting 
at Temple convened according to appointment, and was 
composed of the committee of fifteen, representatives of 
the Boards of Trustees of Baylor University and Baylor 
Female College, a committee from the General Associa- 
tion, and representatives of the trustees of Waco Uni- 
versity. 

After organization a sub-committee of five from each 
I general body was appointed. From the State Conven- 
tion, C. R. Breedlove, J. B. Link, M. V. Smith, R. J. 
Sledge and F. M. Law; from the General Association, 
L. L. Foster, R. C. Burleson, J. L. Whittle, W. B. Dunn 
and B. H. Carroll. This sub-committee of ten made the 
following report: 

"1. That Waco and Baylor Universities be consoli- 
dated. 

"2. That the name of the school shall be Baylor 
University. 




DR. F. M. LAW. 



By B. F. Fuller. 245 



«* 



'S. Baylor University be located at Waco; and we 
further agree that the female department continue there 
as it now exists, provided that Waco gives a bonus, (a) 
the old grounds and buildings of Waco University, (b) 
the $60,000 already secured for an endowment, (c) $45,- 
000 additional building fund, and (d) twenty acres of 
land, suitable for a new site for the University ; provided 
further, that at the expiration of ten years the contin- 
uance of the system of co-operation at Waco be deter- 
mined by a majority of the consolidated general body 
to which the institution, with its funds and property, 
shall belong. 

"4. That as very many Baptists oppose co-educa- 
tion, Baylor Female College be located at some other 
central point, the place where located to give a bonus at 
least in suitable grounds and buildings, and that Baylor 
Female College, then located, be also the property of the 
consolidated general body. 

"5. That the endowment of the present Baylor Uni- 
versity go to Waco with the new Baylor University, ac- 
cording to the terms agreed upon by the State Conven- 
tion, and published in those minutes. 

"6. That the act of locating Baylor Female College 
be referred to the following persons : F. M. Law, A. W. 
Dunn, H. W. Waters, C. R. Breedlove, G. W. Capps. J. 
B. Link, R. J. Sledge, R. Andrews, O. EL P. Garrett, M. 
V. Smith, Harry Havnes, G. W. Breedlove, Hosea Gar- 
rett, A. W. Mclver, Wm. Howard, J. H. Stribling, S. 
A. Beauchamp, W. R. Maxwell, C. C. Garrett and S. F. 
Styles." 

It was also resolved that the alumnae and alumni of 
both Baylor and Waco be made and reported in the 
catalogue of the new consolidated university as the alum- 
nae and alumni of the new school. 

WACO UNIVERSITY. 

When the Baptist General Association was organ- 



246 History of Texas Baptists. 

ized in 1SGS Waco University became the denomina- 
tional school of this organization, but was still the prop- 
erty of Waco Association, and under the supervision of 
a Board of Trustees appointed by that body. The re- 
port to the Association in 18GS showed that there had 
been one hundred and sixty-three matriculations during 
the last session. The school continued under the nom- 
inal control of Waco Association, but was managed by the 
faculty and Board of Trustees. In a few years all the 
original members of the faculty that came from Baylor 
had disappeared from Waco, by death and resignation, 
except President Burleson. The school continued to 
prosper under his management, with increased success 
and usefulness. The school was made co-educational, 
and additional buildings were erected from time to time. 
In 1871 Dr. Burleson was requested by the Board 
of Trustees to canvass the entire State for the University. 
He raised in cash and pledges $20,000. In 1873 the 
university buildings and. grounds were estimated to be 
worth $40,000, and the new boarding house of the female 
department was so far completed as to be in use. The 
report on schools and education at the Waco Association 
in 1880 shows that during the decade from 1S70 to 1880 
there had been matriculated in Waco University 1,167 
females and 1,492 males. At the session of Waco Asso- 
ciation in 1881 the following resolution was adopted by 
that body: 

<r Whereas. the General Association is a much larger 
body than this, and comprehends in its scope of opera- 
tion a much more extensive territory than ours, that body 
desires the supervision and control of Waco University, 
so far as the provisions of the charter will allow, and has 



By B. F. Fuller. 247 

authorized negotiations through committee to accom- 
plish this object, the Board of Trustees has assented to 
the proposition, and white it is believed that this assent 
of the board might complete the transfer, without being 
a derogation of charter, nevertheless it has been deemed 
a due respect and courtesy to Waco Association to solicit 
its formal consent. With this view your committee is 
authorized by the board whose President is President 
and Moderator of this body, to recommend the adoption 
of the following: 

"Resolved, That the supervision of Waco Univer- 
sity, heretofore exercised by Waco Association, under the 
provisions of the charter of that institution, be and the 
same is hereby transferred to the Baptist General Asso- 
ciation of Texas, at the request of that body, and by the 
consent of the Board of Trustees of said University." 

From this time to the consolidation of the schools 
the University was, therefore, under the control and gen- 
eral management of the General Association. A move- 
ment was inaugurated to raise an endowment fund for 
the University, which resulted in a subscription of $20,- 
000 by the city of Waco, and $00,000 by the General 
Association, but not much of this ever materialized. As 
we have seen, under the head of "Baylor University," 
Waco and Baylor were consolidated in December, 1885. 
on the terms there set out, under the name of Baylor 
University at W r aco. 

During the entire separate existence of Waco Uni- 
versity, extending over a period of twenty-five years, it 
had been under the control and management of Dr. R. 
C. Burleson, and had enjoyed singular prosperity, ac- 
complishing great good in the cause of education, being a 
tower of strength to Texas Baptists, and to the cause of 



248 History ojf Texas Baptists. 

Christ. Dr. Burleson, during this period, had conferred 
1 - 1 diplomas, and had directed the ambition of many of 
our aspiring youth to the great work of Christian edu- 
cation and cultivated citizenship. If Horace, by his 
great literary work, 4 *had reared for himself a monu- 
ment more enduring than brass, which the winds and 
rains of heaven could not corrode, nor the mildew bli_ 
Dr. Burleson, in his great work in literature and educa- 
tion, has dor- d more. He has also written his 
noble life upon the hearts and understanding of the ris- 
ing youth of Texas, to the betterment of society and to 
the exalting of Christianity, and has led thousands to 
s r Christ. 

BAYLOR FE VA T.F. COLLI I 

For reasons given in a former chapter, an entire 
separation between Baylor University and the Female 
Department was effected in 1S66. An act of the Leg 
lature was approved on the 2Sth d -ptember, 

. making the Female Department a separate school, 
under the name of Baylor Female College. A separate 

1 •">£ Trustees was appointed, and Professor Horace 
Clark was elected President of the college. The school 
was prosperons under this management, but in 18T1 Pres- 
ident Clark resigned, after a service of twentv-: 
excepting one year that he was reliev ? : { 

g :?rald. H. L .Graves was elected successor to Pres- 
ident Clark. He served one year only, and resigned. 

W. W. Fnntaine was then elected, and the school 
continued to prosper ur.der his management. In 1 



By B. F. Fuller. 249 

Col. Fontaine also resigned, and Dr. Wm. Royall suc- 
ceeded him. 

In 1878 there were a number of improvements made 
on the building, and everything was comfortable, and 
the school in a very favorable condition. Dr. Royal re- 
signed, and Dr. J. H. Luther was elected President in 
1878. Dr. Luther continued to preside over the school 
in this capacity until it was removed to Belton in 1886. 
During Dr. Luther's Presidency the college was never 
more prosperous in all the years of its existence at In- 
dependence. For reasons given heretofore it was deemed 
best by the State Convention, seconded by the trustees 
of the college, that upon the consolidation of the other 
schools, a more eligible location should be sought. 

LADONIA IXSTITUTE. 

In 1867, W. B. Featherstone, a well known edu- 
cator of high standing, who had conducted a nourishing 
school at Boston, Texas, and also at Tyler, was made 
Principal, and at the session of 1868 the school property 
was transferred to him. The following resolution was 
adopted by the Association: 

"Resolved, That the Board of Trustees of Ladonia 
Male and Female Institute be instructed to make a deed 
of the property appertaining to the same to Brother W. 
R. Featherstone, Principal of the Institute." 

Featherstone, assisted by W. J. Brown, continued to 
conduct a nourishing school of great usefulness and in- 
fluence in that section until 1873, when they, closed the 
school and removed to Cleburne, and nothing more was 
heard of Ladonia Institute. 



250 History of Texas Baptists. 

EDUCATION SOCIETY XO. 2. 

From the very meager records that have been pre- 
served it appears that there was an Educational Conven- 
tion organized at Galveston in 1869, and that this body 
held a session the next year at Brenham, Horace Clark 
being President. This organization was short-lived, and 
soon dissolved, and was succeeded by a more permanent 
one. 

The Education Society Xo. 2, which is sometimes re- 
ferred to in the records, is a reorganization of the first 
Education Society which was organized in 1841, and 
disappeared in the beginning of the war. In the pro- 
ceedings of the State Convention at Independence in 
l v "i'. ; the following record appears: 

"The Texas Baptist Educational Convention having 
been dissolved, a number of brethren determined to hold 
a meeting for the purpose of reviving the Texas Baptist 
Education Society. In the organizing of this society 
the following resolution was adopted: 

" 'Whereas, the Baptist Education Society of Texas, 
which was organized in the days of the Republic in the 
year 1841, has been reposing since the war; and, 

" 'Whereas, during its active existence, its efficiency 
was potent in educating young men called of God to 
preach the everlasting Gospel of the Son of God, and 
fostering our literary institutions ; and, 

" 'Whereas, the hearts of many young men are now 
burning with love to God and the souls of the human 
family, and asking aid at our hands to educate them in 
the ministry; and, 



By B. F. Fuller. 251 

" 'Whereas, the constitution and other papers of the 
society have been lost, therefore, 

" 'Resolved, That we now reorganize the said society 
and adopt the following constitution, which embodies the 
original, with certain emendations.' " 

H. L. Graves was made first President, and con- 
tinned to hold this position until his death in Novem- 
ber, 1881. The minutes do not appear in regular order, 
but in 1877 there is a report in the proceedings of the 
Convention showing that the Society had not been idle. 
For the education of young ministers $300 had been 
collected and paid out. In 1879 over $500 had been 
raised and expended the past year for the same purpose. 
About the same amount was raised each year until 1884, 
when $1,279.72 was collected and expended. Dr. F. 
M. Law had been made President in 1882, and continued 
in this capacity until 1885, when Dr. G-. W. Rogers was 
elected President. It appears from the report in this 
year that the society had fallen behind, and was now in 
debt. 

In the general consolidation of 1886 this society was 
absorbed by the educational movement, and its identity 
was lost, so that Education Society Xo. 2 was a thing 
of history, accomplishing in its day much to be remem- 
bered. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AXD COLPORTAGE CONTENTION, 
FEOM THE CHANGE OF THE TEXAS BAPTIST SABBATH- 
SCHOOL AND COLPORTAGE UNION TO THE TEXAS 
BAPTIST SUNDAY-SCHOOL AXD COLPORTAGE 
CONVENTION IN JULY, 1867, TO ITS 
CONSOLIDATION WITH THE SUN- 
DAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION OF 
THE GEXERAL ASSOCIA- 
TION, JULY 23, 

1885. 

When the Union met at Lexington in July, 18j67, 
twenty-five churches and one mission had messengers 
present, but no Sunday-school was represented. The 
subject of changing the constitution and the name was 
again brought to the consideration of the body. A com- 
mittee was appointed to take this matter into consider- 
ation. The report of the committee, which was adopted. 
changed the name to "The Texas Baptist Sunday-school 
and Co] port ago Convention," and made the provisions 
of the constitution very general and liberal in their terms. 
This new constitution had also a very peculiar limita- 
tion in it. In view of the fact that so much valuable 
time had been wasted in the mania of constitutional 
mending, a clause was inserted in this constitution "That 
no proposition to alter or amend shall be entertained be- 
fore the year 187 7. ten years." J. H. Stribling was made 

(252) 



By B. F. Fuller. 253 

President of this meeting; and Deacon C. E. Breedlove, 
Secretary. 

In 1S68 the Convention met at Waco, with seventeen 
churches and thirteen associations affiliating. There 
were able reports on "Condition of Sunday-schools/' 
"Plan of Operation/ 5 "Colportage" and "Sabbath-school 
Periodicals." The past year's work had not been very 
satisfactory. The two largest Sunday-schools in the 
State were reported to be Waco, with one hundred and 
ninety pupils and nineteen teachers, and Brenham, with 
one hundred and eighty-five pupils and fifteen teachers. 

In 1869 the Convention met at Bryan, with twenty- 
two churches, nine Sunday-schools and two associations 
affiliating. T. J. Beall was chosen President, and F. M. 
Law, Corresponding Secretary. Donations of books had 
been received from Smith & Sheldon, of Xew York, to 
the amount of $228.50; from Col. Morgan L. Smith, 
$250 ; from American Baptist Publication Society, $430 ; 
and from the National Sunday-school Convention, $180, 
making a total of $1,088.50. The Treasurer's report 
showed that $1,266.50 had been received from the sale 
of books and cash collections during the year, and $300 
was collected during the session. 

The session of 18T0 was held at Brenham in October, 
to correspond with the meeting of the State Convention. 
Twelve churches, fourteen Sundav-schools and two asso- 
ciations were enrolled. T. S. Allen had been General 
Agent, and had organized eight Sunday-schools ; sold 
five hundred and eighty-three books, distributed 42,000 
pages of tracts, and collected $610.30 in cash. The 
present working capital of the Convention was about 
$2,000. From the Treasurer's report it appeared that 



254 History of Texas Baptists. 

$1,964 had been collected from all sources. The Con- 
vention resolved to raise a $5,000 book fund, and pledges 
to the amount of $300 were taken at the time. 

The session of 1871 was also held with the State 
Convention. Rev, Win. Howard was elected President. 
The Treasurer reported the receipts of the past year to 
be $1,304. ?S, but there had been no General Agent on 
the field, and not much work had been done. The plan 
of meeting at the same time and place with the State 
Convention was abandoned, and the Convention met 
in July, 1872. at Austin. There were at this meet- 
ing eighteen churches and twenty Sunday-schools co- 
operating. Dr. Howard was re-elected President. The 
Convention still had not been able to employ a General 
Agent, and but little work had been done. The receipts 
from pledges and sale of books had been $985.67. Dr. 
W. C .Crane was chosen Corresponding Secretary. The 
Board of Managers appointed M. V. Smith General Sun- 
day-school Missionary and Financial Agent. 

In 18T3 the Convention met at Tyler, and Deacon W. 
E. Penn was elected President. The Board of Directors, 
through Dr. Law, Chairman, made the following report: 

"Soon after the last annual meetiug of the Conven- 
tion, your board was so fortunate as to secure the service? 
of Elder M. V. Smith as Sunday-school Missionary and 
Financial Agent for the year. at # a salary of $1,300, and 
traveling expenses. He entered upon the mission Sep- 
tember 1. 1872, >ince which time he has given himself 
most earnestly to the work. His efforts have been not 
only to secure church and Sunday-school co-operation in 
this interest, but also that of the Association, and on 
such a basis a> might promise permanency, lie has been 
net at every point with a hearty welcome and encourage- 



By B. F. Fuller. 255 

ment. Much doubtless has been done in the way of 
stirring up the great Baptist mind of Texas to the im- 
portance of Sunday-school work by his sermons, ad- 
dresses and correspondence. The organization, however, 
of this work in our State will require the toil of years. 
The associations most actively engaged, and in an or- 
ganic way, as far as known to your board, are the Union, 
Trinity River, Little River, Leon River, Elm Fork and 
Cherokee. Brethren H. J. Chamberlin, T. M. Anderson, 
R. F. Butler, W. T. Wright and W. G-. Caperton have 
rendered valuable aid in the Sunday-school mission work. 
Very many of the churches have responded liberally to 
the calls of the board made through our agent, whose 
reports show him to have traveled seventy-eight hundred 
and fifty-six miles, and* delivered one hundred and fifty- 
six sermons and addresses, besides about five hundred 
letters written to different persons on the subject of his 
agency. 

"We are happy to state that there is a full and hearty 
co-operation between the board of your Convention and 
the General Association in the great work in which we 
are engaged. The agent, with all his work to secure 
statistics, has not received sufficient information to show 
our Sunday-school strength in the State. Below we add 
a list of the Baptist schools that have responded, which 
is, perhaps, not more than half of those in operation in 
the State. The report of the Treasurer and Depository 
Agent, herewith submitted, will show the financial co'n- 
dition of the Convention. The indebtedness of the 
board at the time that Dr. J. B. McLelland took charge 
of our business affairs has been entirely paid, so we are 
permitted to report the Convention out of debt. The 
amount of stock on hand is less than reported last year. 
This is owing, first, to an error in stock report of last 
year; second, to indebtedness paid during the year; and 
thirdly, the refusal to report some old claims due the 
depository on back account, which are regarded of doubt- 
ful reliability. Besides, during the last } r ear the de- 



256 History of Texas Baptists. 

pository has realized nothing from contributions, all such 
being devoted to the missionary work for the year. The 
board takes pleasure in reporting the continued hearty 
and prompt co-operation of Col. Morgan L. Smith, of 
Newark, Xew Jersey, to whom we are greatly indebted for 
liberal and valuable assistance in our work. We men- 
tion in this connection that we have been able to supply 
the limited call for books, libraries, tickets, etc., for Bap- 
tist Sunday-schools. We do not keep a stock of Union 
books, but have an arrangement with a private book 
house, by which such orders are filled.'' 

The Treasurer's report showed $2,445. 5S collected 
and received for books, and $188.48 worth of books had 
been donated. The Superintendent had collected sta- 
tistics from ninety-one Sunday-schools, with seven hun- 
dred and sixteen teachers and five thousand, seven hun- 
dred and seven pupils, and had raised $3,800.16 for mis- 
sions. 

The session of 1874 was held at Houston, and W. E. 
Penn was re-elected President. M. V. Smith, Superin- 
tendent, had resigned, and W. H. Robert had succeeded 
him. The board and depository were removed to Hous- 
ton. B. S. Fitzgerald was chosen Corresponding Secre- 
tary, and was also to take charge of the depository. 

The Convention met at Calvert in 1875, and J. H. 
Stribling was chosen President, and G. W. Baines, Jr., 
was made Corresponding Secretary. For want of means 
nothing had been done during the year. Dr. Law moved 
that the convention be dissolved, and the work be com- 
mitted to the State Convention. After discussion, how- 
ever, the proposition was overwhelmingly defeated. 

In 187G the Convention met at Brenham, but only a 
few were present, and nothing had been done during the 



By B. F. Fuller. 257 

year. Nothing was attempted at the meeting, and the 
prospects of the Convention were very gloomy ; but it was 
agreed that the Convention should meet at Anderson the 
next year. 

W. W. Keep, pastor at Anderson, and W. P. Howell, 
Sunday-school Superintendent, and a few others at An- 
derson, with a commendable zeal for the cause, applied 
themselves to the work of securing a larger attendance 
and arousing a livelier interest in the great work of the 
Convention. By addressing personal letters and invita- 
tions to brethren all over the district, and by earnest 
appeals in the newspapers, much was done in this direc- 
tion, so that when the Convention met in 1877 fifteen 
churches and twenty-five Sunday-schools were enrolled, 
but not much work had been done. 

At the meeting in 1878, at Calvert, twelve churches 
and twenty-three Sunday-schools sent messengers. W. 
D. Powell had been employed as Sunday-school mission- 
ary, and reported that he had organized seventy Sunday-, 
schools, besides doing much other work. Deacon W. R. 
Howell, of Anderson, was made President, and re-elected 
in 1879 at Luling. At this meeting thirty-two churches, 
twenty-six Sunday-schools, five associations and two 
county Sunday-school conventions co-operated. J. M. 
Carroll was re-elected Corresponding Secretanr, who, to- 
gether with W. D. Powell, Sunday-school missionary, 
made a splendid showing in their reports of a most suc- 
cessful year's work. Ninety-five Sunday-schools had 
been organized, thirty-eight hundred persons had been 
brought into the new schools, twenty-eight hundred had 
been added to existing schools, and thirty-seven con- 
versions in the Sunday-school. There was a Sunday- 



258 History of Texas Baptists, 

school mass-meeting on Sunday afternoon, and $781.70 
in cash and pledges was raised for the next year's work. 
About one hundred and fifty messengers were present at 
this meeting, and much enthusiasm in the work of the 
Convention was manifes:. 

The sixteenth annual session was held at Brenham. 
and the old officers were for the most part continued. 
Brother Powell had again done a splendid years work. 
Eighty-eight new Sunday-schools had been organized, 
and 200.000 pages of tracts had been distributed. The 
missionary had traveled six thousand miles, and the Con- 
vention was now out of debt. At the meeting $1,060 
was raised for the support of Powell in the work. 

At the meeting at Gonzales in 1SS1 there was a fa-l- 
ing off in attendance. Powell reported sixty-three new 
Sunday-schools organized, and ninety-five conversions; 
$1,3(K .60 in cash and pledges was raised for the com- 
ing year's work. 

At the meeting at Bryan in 1SS2 there were twenty- 
three churches and twenty-six Sunday-schools co-oper- 
ating. W. D. Powell, missionary, presented the follow- 
ing as his final report : 

"Nearly five years ago. in this house, I was requested 
to become your missionary. After prayerful consider- 
ation I accepted. In reviewing the past I can see many 
mistakes and failures, but God is my witness, that it has 
ever been my intention to render you faithful service. 
Through heat and cold, dust and rain, hardships anc 
couragements. sue sg - and victories, I have tried to 
cling to Christ, and go on with the work. Let us praise 
■ i good has been accomplished during 
the past five years. What a char._ hath wrought 

in or. Zion within these five years ! Our chur 



By B. B. Fuller. 259 

ill a large measure, have thrown off the lukewarmness 
and indifference, once so prevalent. Called to work for 
Christ in the Sunday-schools, it has increased their piety 
and their contributions to home and to foreign missions. 
We can never realize any just conception of churches in 
the matter of Christian benevolence until we teach the 
children to give. More than five hundred new schools 
have been organized; thousands of pages of tracts have 
been distributed, hundreds of persons, destitute of the 
Scriptures, have been supplied through the liberality of 
the American Baptist Publication Society. Several 
churches have been organized, several county Sunday- 
school Conventions been put in operation, which have 
done much good. Truly the Lord hath done great things 
for us, whereof we are glad. 

"Your missionary held the first meeting on the banks 
of the Eio Grande., where a soul was converted under 
Baptist preaching. He was the first missionary from 
Texas to enter Mexico. He was the first Baptist mis- 
sionary of any kind to enter many counties in Eastern 
and Western Texas. Ours has, truly, been a pioneer 
work. A narrative of the trials and difficulties would be 
startling. I have always, and everywhere, been kindly 
received. 

"The following is a summary of the work done in the 
year that has just passed: Scriptures granted, six hun- 
dred and eighty-three; books sold, three hundred and 
eighty-one ; pages of tracts distributed, eleven thousand, 
three hundred ; sermons and addresses, two hundred and 
ninety-nine; prayer-meetings held, forty-five; families 
visited, four hundred and eighty-eight ; persons baptized, 
fifty-one; churches constituted, two; Sunday-schools or- 
ganized, forty-three; conversions in meetings held, one 
hundred and forty-five; miles traveled, ninety-five hun- 
dred. 

"With this report I tender my resignation as your 
missionary. I feel that God has called me to another part 
of the Master's vineyard. From my heart I thank you 



260 History of Texas Baptists. 

for the kindness, patience, forbearance and brotherly love 
yon have ever manifested toward me. I thank you for 
words of cheer and timely aid in darkest hours. I thank 
you for what you have done. God bless you, one and all." 

Eev. Kit Williams had also been employed as mis- 
sionary, and had done a splendid work. The report of 
the board showed that each one of the missionaries had 
been paid $1,200. The object of Brother Powell's resig- 
nation was to accept work in Mexico. Eesolutions of 
thanks and appreciation of his splendid work in Texas 
were unanimously adopted by the Convention. The 
Treasurer had received during the year $2,303.25, and 
$1,850 was raised for the following year's work. In 
1883 a new board was appointed, and located at Belton. 

The session of 1884 was at Dallas. W. R. Maxwell 
had been General Superintendent, and had pushed the 
colportage work. Eight brethren had been engaged in 
the work during the year; $1,498.70 had been collected 
on the field, and the total amount raised by Superintend- 
ent Maxwell, directly and indirectly, was $3,508.50. 

The Convention met at Houston in 1885. At the last 
session steps had been taken looking to consolidation with 
the Sunday-school Convention of the General Associa- 
tion, and a committee appointed to visit that body made 
a report. A committee of seven was now appointed to 
confer with a like committee from that body. After a 
full and free conference this joint committee reported 
that "the consolidation of the Sunday-school forces in 
the State, under the auspices of one body, was both de- 
sirable and practicable." The following plan was also 
submitted: 



By B. F. Fuller. 261 

1. For this year each body will appoint an eqnal 
number of the Board of Managers. 

2. This new board shall appoint the General Super- 
intendent. 

3. The present missionaries of both boards may be 
continued. 

4. The Consolidated Board to be located at Lam- 
pasas. 

5. W. R. Howell to act as Provisional President. 

6. The new board shall, from the two old constitu- 
tions, prepare a new one. 

7. The next place of meeting to be fixed by the new 
board. 

A committee was appointed to meet with the Con- 
vention of the General Association at Ennis, with full 
powers to consummate the consolidation. This meeting 
at Ennis convened on the 23d day of July, 1885, and 
the consolidation of these two bodies was consummated 
according to the terms adopted at Houston. Deacon W. 
K. Howell was elected President of the new body, and 
W. R. Maxwell was made Superintendent. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION OF THE GENERAL ASSO- 
CIATION. 

Up to 1875 the Sunday-school work within the 
bounds of the General Association had been done by a 
Committee on Sunday-schools, but on the 5th day of 
Xovember, 1875, a convention assembled at Longview by 
previous arrangement, and organized a Sunday-school 
Convention for the General Association. It met with 
the Convention at Waco in 1876, and appointed a board. 



262 History of Texas Baptists. 

In 1880 the organization of nineteen Sunday-schools and 
eleven county conventions is reported in the minutes of 
the General Association, and $256.86 worth of books 
had been sold by T. W. Compere. Twenty-two Sunday- 
schools were organized in 1884. Aid had been furnished 
to the Convention by the American Baptist Publication 
Society to the amount of $2,000. L. W. Coleman and 
Kit Williams had each worked six months for the Con- 
vention. W. K> Maxwell, who was in charge of the col- 
portage work of the Sunday-school and Colportage Con- 
vention, was also employed to take charge of the colport- 
age work of this Convention, in connection with that 
work, and he had organized fourteen Sunday-schools. 

About this time the question of consolidation with 
the Sunday-school and Colportage Convention began to 
be agitated, and, at the request of that body, a committee 
was sent to the meeting in Houston in 1885. A plan of 
consolidation was agreed upon, and a joint meeting was 
arranged, to convene with the General Association at 
Ennis. At this meeting, on the 23d day of July, 1885, 
consolidation was fully effected, and the Sunday-school 
Convention of the General Association quietly dropped 
from among the active agencies of the church. 



CHAPTEE XXV. 

BAPTIST NEWSPAPERS IN TEXAS, FROM THE ORGANIZA- 
TION OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION IN 1868 TO 
THE CONSOLIDATION OF BAPTIST PAPERS 
IN' TEXAS, JULY, 1886. 

At the beginning of this period, as we have already- 
seen, the only Baptist newspaper then published in Texas 
was the Baptist Herald, by J. B. Link, editor and pro- 
prietor. Before this, and also afterwards, a number of 
feeble efforts were made from time to time to establish 
other papers, but they were evanescent. In 1870 there 
appeared in the Herald quite a number of communica- 
tions, advocating schemes for a grand Baptist school in 
Texas. The Herald warmly seconded this movement, 
and contended that Texas Baptists should concentrate 
their efforts on one great central school as the best edu- 
cational policy for Texas. Both Baylor and Waco pro- 
tested, and the scheme did not make headway. 

In 1874 The Christian Messenger was established at 
Paris by Rev. R. C. Buckner, the first issue appearing 
under date of January 3, 1874. This paper bid fair to 
become a permanent institution, and soon gained ex- 
tensive circulation and influence, and was eventually 
made the organ of the General Association. 

In 1877 Rev. Jonas Johnson bought a one-half in- 
terest in the Herald, and in February, 1878, Dr. 0. C. 
Pope became joint editor with Dr. Link. In 1881, on 
(263) 



264 History of Texas Baptists. 

the death of Brother Johnson, the paper again came into 
the sole possession of Dr. Link. 

In January, 1876, The Christian Messenger was 
moved to Dallas, and its name was changed to the Texas 
Baptist. Both papers were pushed with vigor and ability. 
The Herald continued to be published at Houston until 
1883, when it was moved to Austin, and in January, 
1886, was removed to Waco. In June, 1883, Dr. Buck- 
ner sold the Texas Baptist to S. A. Hayden, with a sub- 
scription list of more than 5,000. 

Dr. Link had advocated consolidation of all our 
schools into one grand university. Dr. Buckner had 
suggested the consolidation of all our general bodies, as 
well as our newspapers. Soon after Dr. Hayden took 
control of the Texas Baptist he announced its policy to 
be for the unification of the Baptists of Texas in all their 
enterprises. Dr. S. J. Anderson purchased a half inter- 
est in the paper, .and became joint editor with Dr. Hay- 
den. Unification became its watch-word, and the dis- 
tinguishing feature of its policy. The columns of the 
Baptist teemed with pleas for unification all along the 
Baptist lines in Texas. This proved to be a popular 
theme among the brethren, and was caught up by the 
masses, soon sweeping the State like a great tidal wave. 
The Herald also sanctioned the movement. Dr. Ander- 
son sold his interest in the Texas Baptist to Dr. Hay- 
den in 1885. 

After the consolidation of the general missionary 
and Sunday-school bodies in 1886, to make unification 
complete, it remained to consolidate the newspapers. 
Two or three committees had been appointed to consum- 
mate this work, but the matter was finally referred to 




S. J. ANDERSON. 



By B. F. Fuller. 265 

the General Convention, meeting at Waco in 1886. The 
Convention heartily indorsed the movement, and deter- 
mined that the consolidated paper should be located at 
Dallas, without setting forth any plan upon which the 
consolidation should be effected. In July, 1886, the con- 
solidation was consummated by a sale of the Herald by 
J. B. Link to S. A. Hayden, editor and proprietor of the 
Texas Baptist, for $10,000, thus closing the separate ex- 
istence of the Herald. Its last issue was July 8, 1886, in 
which a list of 6,000 subscribers was claimed. The consol- 
idated paper was called the Texas Baptist ( and Herald, 
and was published at Dallas by S. A. Hayden, editor 
and proprietor. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 

DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS, FROM 1868 TO THE PRESENT 

TIME. 

The history of the earliest District Associations in 
Texas have been briefly sketched in former chapters, ex- 
tending up to the year 1868, about the time of the organ- 
ization of the General Association. After that period 
these Associations became so numerous that it is im- 
possible in a work of the limited size of this to notice 
the history of all. It is proposed, in this chapter, to 
pursue, in a succinct form, the history of only a few of 
the strongest and most active District Associations in 
the State, commencing at the date just named. These 
will illustrate very clearly the work and activities of 
Texas Baptists, not only in the other Associations, but 
among the brotherhood generally. 

UNION ASSOCIATION. 

The thirtieth annual session of the old Union Asso- 
ciation met at Xavasota on the 10th day of September, 
1869. J. H. Stribling was elected Moderator; 0. H. P. 
Garrett, Recording Secretary ; Horace Clark, Correspond- 
ing Secretary, and W. H. Thacker, Treasurer. Corre- 
sponding messengers were present from Little River, 
Tryon and Trinity River Associations; also from the 
Sunday-school and Colportage Convention and the State 

(266) 



By B. F. Fuller. 267 

Convention. M. V. Smith read the report of the board, 
showing much missionary work done during the year. 
There had been sixty-nine baptisms. Rev. F. Iviefer had 
been employed by the board to labor among the Germans, 
and his work had been very successful. 

In 1870 the Association met at Independence. The 
old officers were re-elected. Three new churches were 
received. The collection for missions on Sunday was 
$70.85. F. Kiefer had been continued as missionary 
at a salary of $400 and house rent. He had baptized 
twenty-three and had witnessed eighty-seven baptisms 
in meetings in which he had been engaged; had organ- 
ized two churches, and sold $250 worth of books. R. F. 
Harris had also been employed as missionary at a salary 
of $600. He had baptized eighty-two, organized one 
church and two Sunday-schools, and collected $123.76 
on the field. There was $1,235 in cash and pledges 
raised for next yearns work. 

In 1871 the Association met with Willow Creek 
church, in Harris county. M. V. Smith was made Cor- 
responding Secretary. Rev. Heisig, R. F. Harris and 
Henry Parnall had been employed as missionaries. There 
had been seventy-three baptisms and two churches organ- 
ized. The Treasurer reported $1,903.30 received dur- 
ing the year. 

At the session of 1872 forty-two churches were en- 
rolled, and eight new churches were received. Five mis- 
sionaries had been at work, and eighty-five had been bap- 
tized, eight churches and four Sunday-schools had been 
organized, and $1,890.05 had been received by the 
Treasurer. 

In 1873 four missionaries had been employed, and 



268 History of Texas Baptists. 

forty-four baptisms were reported ; two churches and four 
Sunday-schools organized. The Treasurer had received 
$1,508.90, and $1,370.30 was pledged for next year's 
work. 

The thirty-fifth annual session met at Montgomery. 
H. L. Graves was made Moderator. The great finan- 
cial pressure in the country had greatly curtailed the 
work of the Executive Board. Only one missionary had 
been at work, and for only one-half of his time. He had 
baptized thirty-nine, and organized three Sunday-schools. 
The year closed with a debt of $350, but this was raised 
during the session. The Association was supporting one 
young minister at Baylor University, and $269.80 had 
also been raised for his support. 

There were messengers from forty-seven churches in 
1875. The Treasurer had only received $440.70. In 
1876 G. W. Pickett was made Moderator. Rev. Mitchell 
and Rev. Harris had been employed as missionaries, bap- 
tizing fifty-one and organizing four Sunday-schools. 
From this time until 1886 little more than routine work 
was attempted. Regular annual meetings were kept up, 
but there was little change in the program. 

The Association met at Independence in 1886. G. 
W. Pickett was elected Moderator; O. H. P. Garrett, 
Oleark; T. J. Hairston, Treasurer ;and E. A. Baten, Cor- 
responding Secretary. The property of Baylor Univer- 
sity and Baylor Female College had been turned over to 
Union Association for educational purposes on the con- 
solidation of Baylor and Waco Universities at Waco, and 
the removal of the female college to Belton. At this ses- 
sion a plan was proposed for carrying on these schools 
at Independence. There was a reorganization of these 



By B. F. Fuller. 269 

schools, under the name of Crane College, with a separate 
male and female department, under the management of 
Professor W. W. Fontaine and E. E. Binford. W. G. 
Wood was missionary this year, and reported one hun- 
dred and one baptisms, and $7,597 contributed for all 
purposes. 

In 1887 the Corresponding Secretary proposed in his 
report to aid several weak churches during the following 
year, and to have a strong missionary on the field. Ac- 
cordingly $750 was pledged for this purpose. There 
were forty students in the male, and forty-four in the 
female departments of Crane College. 

In 1888 L. E. Kellis was the missionary, and had 
constituted two churches, and raised $181.76 on the 
field. The Association determined to support a mission- 
ary on some foreign field, and $582.50 was raised for 
that purpose. In 1889 the Corresponding Secretary re- 
ported $1,074.75 collected. At this meeting, which 
was at Huntsville, a committee was appointed to prepare 
for a semi-centennial celebration at the next session of 
this body, but when the Association met in 1890 the 
committee had failed to perform the work committed to 
them. W. H. Cleveland was the only one present who 
was in the organization of the Association fifty years be- 
fore. Another committee was appointed, and instructed 
to prepare a program for a semi-centennial session. The 
missionary reported twenty baptisms, and $728.44 col- 
lected. The Committee on Education reported that the 
old university property at Independence had been sold, 
and was now occupied by the Catholics as a negro or- 
phanage, and recommended that steps be taken to re- 
cover it. This property had been sold at a great sacrifice 



270 History of Texas Baptists. 

by the old Board of Trustees to satisfy a lien, and this 
transaction was causing great dissatisfaction. The semi- 
centennial services were held on Sunday afternoon, and 
there were addresses by Dr. R. C. Burleson, W. H. Cleve- 
land, Willett Holmes and J. B. Link. The speakers re- 
ferred with great pride and satisfaction to the glorious 
history of this Association, recounting that its organiza- 
tion took place at Travis, fifty years ago, with only three 
churches affiliating, Independence, La Grange and 
Travis ; W. H. Cleveland,, now present, being a messen- 
ger from old Travis; that this was the first Baptist As- 
sociation in Texas ; that its work and influence for good 
through all these years have been powerful factors in the 
development of Texas Baptists. The State Convention 
was organized by churches and men belonging principally 
to this Association, and on the recommendation of this 
body. It had brought the first missionaries to Texas, 
and was emphatically the mother of Associations and 
missions in this State; and last, but not least, was the 
patron of education and the fostering mother of Baylor 
Lmiversity. What a glorious record ! Let its memory 
ever live as an inspiration to others. This body of Chris- 
tian workers did not by any means consider its work 
completed, but has continued in the same line. 

Passing over a few years we find that the fifty-sixth 
session met with Waller church in 1896. Twenty-two 
churches sent messengers, and five new churches were 
received, among which were two Swedish churches. 
Abram Weaver was chosen Moderator. During the ses- 
sion the following resolution was adopted: 

"That we again emphasize the importance of co-oper- 
ation with the State Board in our mission work, and d.is- 



By B. F. Fuller. 271 

approve of such antagonism or criticism as is calculated 
to hinder its work." 

The following was also adopted: 

"Whereas, the Sealy and Buckhorn churches, which 
are members of this body, have, by published resolutions 
and church action, renounced all allegiance to Association 
and Convention, and have condemned the same as un- 
scriptural; and, 

"Whereas, said churches have committed themselves 
to that form of doctrine condemned by our General Con- 
vention at Belton last fall, known as Martinism, there- 
fore, 

"Kesolved, That this Association withdraw fellow- 
ship from said churches." 

An Executive Board, consisting of thirty-one mem- 
bers, was appointed and located at Houston. Two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars was pledged for the ensuing year. 
Two general missionaries had been in the field, at a sal- 
ary of $300 each. 

In 1897 the Association met with the Missouri City 
church, with twenty-one churches affiliating. Six new 
churches were received into the fellowship of the Asso- 
ciation. L. Ellege was made Moderator; $181.25 had 
been collected for mission work, and $285 was pledged 
for next year's work. 

The fifty-eighth session met with the Waller church 
in August, 1898. Thirty-nine churches were enrolled, 
and three new churches were received. W. J. Durham 
was chosen Moderator, and J. F. Dobbs, Clerk. There 
had been no general missionary employed, but ten weak 
churches had been aided. 

The fifty-ninth session of the Association met with 



272 History of Texas Baptists. 

the First church at Alvin, August 11, 1899, with an en- 
rollment of thirty churches. H. M. Burroughs was 
chosen Moderator. The Committee on State Mis- 
sions, among other things, said: "Your committee 
would urge upon the churches of Union Association to 
put themselves fully in line with the Convention Board, 
and work with them for the evangelization of this great 
State." There had been no general missionary, but three 
missionary pastors, whose salaries had been supplemented 
by the Executive Board, had been in the field. The 
First church of Galveston had contributed during the 
year for all purposes $5,442.30, and the First church 
of Houston $3,119.99. 

WACO ASSOCIATION. 

This body met in 18G8 at Bald Springs, twenty miles 
north of Waco. W. C. Buck preached the introductory 
sermon, after which J. W. Speight moved to adjourn to 
Waco. Brother Lockett, the pastor, protested very earn- 
estly, but the motion carried, and the whole Association 
set out in a body for Waco, without waiting for dinner 
or feeding their horses. Arriving about sunset they were 
received by the brethren there with open hands and 
hearts. The reports at this session showed a prosperous 
condition of the work. There had been two hundred and 
four baptisms during the year, and one hundred and 
fifty-four received by letter. 

In 18G9 R. C. Burleson was Moderator. Little mis- 
sionary work had been done this year. The Executive 
Committee was instructed to employ a missionary for his 
whole time A special committee, appointed to inquire 



By B. F. Fuller. 273 

concerning the "fellowship" and order of Ebenezer 
church, reported : "The fellowship broken and the church 
in disorder/'' A committee was appointed to visit that 
church, with a view of healing the breaches. 

The meeting in IS TO had me ;; r:: ± Tis from sixteen 
churches, with a total membership of' ten hundred and 
fifty-three. There had been seventy-one conversions, and 
one hundred and twenty-eight received by letter. A 
committee to consider a co m muni cation from certain 
colored churches recommended "that a committee be ap- 
pointed to aid the colored brethren by counsel and cor- 
respondence, to organize into an association without de- 
lay, and that the most cordial feelings and correspond- 
ence be maintained between the white and colored breth- 
ren." The committee appointed at the last session on 
Ebenezer church reported the church still in disorder, 
and advised the brethren to call a council of sister 
churches. Little mission work had been done during the 
year, except in nursing weak churches. 

On a general review of the work of the Association 
for the decade of its existence there had been about 
twelve hundred and fifty baptisms, the result of its mis- 
sionary labors. At the twelfth session, which met with 
East Waco church, twenty churches affiliated. Ebenezer 
church, having been restored to order, was admitted to 
fellowship. The mission work had been very prosperous. 
W. W. Harris was employed by the Executive Board in 
April. 1ST1, at a salary of f>l,(K . and his career as an 
evangelist in the bounds of the Association was brilliant 
and most successful. Many of the churches had en- 
joyed great revivals, and two hundred and seventy- " 
baptisms were reported. 



874 History of Texas Baptists. 

The meeting at Marlin in 1873 showed twenty-two 
churches affiliating, and two hundred and fifteen bap- 
tisms were reported. A new plan for mission work was 
adopted. Instead of a Missionary Board, there was to 
be a Missionary Convention of Waco Association. This 
lasted but one year, however. 

At the meeting at Bremond in lS?-i, Dr. B. EL Car- 
roll preached the introductory sermon. The plan of a 
Missionary Convention having been abandoned, a Mission 
Board, composed of one member from each church, was 
appointed, and this plan has been adhered to ever since. 
It has proved wonderfully successful. Each board mem- 
ber is chosen by his own church, and recommended to the 
Association. There is a President of the board, and four 
Vice Presidents are chosen every year. The territory of 
the Association is divided into four districts, with a Vice 
President in each ; and there is one board meeting in each 
district, arranged by the Association, which is published 
in the minutes. The President, in addition to his reg- 
ular duties, acts as Corresponding Secretary and Treas- 
urer. 

In IS? 5. at Waco, there were twenty-five churches 
affiliating, with a total membership of sixteen hundred 
and eighteen. Two missionaries were kept in the field 
this year — V. G. Cunningham in the city, and J. B. Par- 
rock outside. In IS? 6 twenty-six churches sent messen- 
gers. J. B. Parrock had been kept in the field as mis- 
sionary, and three hundred and ninety-six baptisms were 
reported. In Waco alone there were one hundred and 
fifty-seven baptisms. Great revivals were also reported 
in IS??, with three hundred and nine baptisms. The 
membership of the Association was now twenty- 




ELDER B. H. CARROLL. D. D, 



By B. F. Fuller. 275 

three hundred and thirty-seven. The Sunday-school 
work was now committed to the Missionary Board. In 
1878 there were one hundred and sixty-eight baptisms 
reported, and $354.70 had been raised for Associational 
missions. In 1879 there had been two hundred and forty- 
one baptisms. W. S. Huff had been missionary, at a 
salary of $50 per month. Instead of employing a mission- 
ary for the ensuing year, the pastors were requested by 
the Association to supply the destitution. At the session 
of 1880 twenty-two churches sent messengers; $805.45 
had been collected and paid to the missionaries of the 
General Association, according to the plan of co-operation 
agreed upon at the last session. 

FIRST HALF OF THIRD DECADE. 

During the next five years the Lord greatly blessed 
the work of the Association. There were earnest, har- 
monious labor and active co-operation in every depart- 
ment of the work. All over the Association brethren 
were made to rejoice, and sinners were being converted. 
Forty churches had affiliated with the Association, all or 
part of the time. There were thirty-one churches in 
1881, and thirty-six in 1885. While new churches had 
been organized, others had been dismissed to join other 
Associations. The total membership at the beginning 
of this period was twenty hundred and forty-nine ; at the 
close in 1885 it was twenty-seven hundred and forty- 
nine. The total number baptized was nine hundred and 
seventy, and ten hundred and seventy had been received 
by letter. The total contributions for missions and or- 
phans' home were $10,679.42. The missionaries sup- 



History of Texas Baptists. 

ported in whole or in part. were, in the Associational 
field. T. D. Snttle, T. M. L. Duncan. J. Daffin. J. T. 
Crawford. V. G. Cunningham and >. F. Sparks: on the 
frontier. E. S. Hurt. W. B. Long and J. E. Kelly; on 
ign fields. W. B. Bagby and Z. T. Taylor, in Brazil. 
' and W. D. Powell, in Mexi general mission- 

aries. L. W. Coleman. Kit Williams and A. J. Holt. 

D HALF OF THIRD DECADE. 

During the five years from 1885 to 1890 there were 
sunshine and shadow- ~ atening obstacles app 

in the pathway of harmony and progress. A formidable 
heresy, known as Martinism. promulgated by M. T. 
:in. a member of the Waco church, gave great trouble 
se . ition towards the close of this period. This 
departure from the faith will be examined specifically 
in a future chapter on Heresy, under the head of Mar- 
an. Although this greatly troubled the churches 
and disturbed the fellowship of the Association, yet the 
; :ren promptly and boldly met the difficulty, and 
; still, even when the battle was the hottest, they pressed 
I onward with their great work. At the Winning of this 
half decade,, in 188G, there were thirty-five churches 
affiliating with the A m ;. at the close of it, in 

re were forty-eight churches. The total mem- 
bership in 1SS5 was thirty-one hundred an -six ; 
in 1590. forty-one hundred and forty-one. In this five 
id been thirteen hundred and nineteen bap- 
venteen hundred and twenty-six otherwise 
received. The amount of money contributed for all pur- 
There were now thirty-six meet- 



By B. F. Fuller. 277 

ing houses within the bounds of the Association, the 
total value of which was $77,050. 

FOURTH DECADE. 

The thirty-second session of Waco Association was 
held at Moody in 1591, with fifty churches affiliating. 
W. D. Gains was made Moderator. In ^November, 1890, 
Eeagan church had formally withdrawn from the Asso- 
ciation, justifying her action by Section 2 of Article -i, 
of the constitution, which, according to their construc- 
tion, gave them this right. The section referred to is as 
follows : 

"This Association admits the right of any of her 
churches at any time to withdraw from her, and she 
claims, the right to withdraw from and disfellowship any 
church which shall depart from the principles of this 
compact, or become heterodox in faith, or disorderly in 
practice ; and to this end she may institute inquiry con- 
cerning fellowship and order." 

The Association took cognizance of this action by 
this church, <and unanimously decided: 

1. That the church was not correct in her construc- 
tion. 

2. That the language referred to should be con- 
strued to mean, "This Association admits the right of 
any of her churches to withdraw from her at any time 
when the Association is in session, the Association con- 
senting to the same." 

The Association evidently acted without due consider- 
ation in adopting this decision. It is contrary to the 
plain import of the language used, and it certainly ad- 



. : 



I -.-.. - 7 




-: 



. ■ 




By B. F. Fuller. 879 

sociation has no right to complain if a church affiliates 
with another Association without asking for a letter, be- 
cause the first Association obtained no jurisdiction over 
that church. TVhen this letter is presented to the new 
Association its only use, effect or significance is to satisfy 
the new Association of its soundness in the faith and its 
orderly condition; but if no letter be presented no objec- 
tion should be made on that account, but the facts are 
easily obtained otherwise by an investigation, and just 
as satisfactorily. The letter is not of the nature of a 
letter from a church to one of its members, because the 
same relation does not exist. 

The word "compact" used in the constitution is prob- 
ably a misnomer, which crept in unawares. The Asso- 
ciation being composed of messengers, and not of officers, 
when its session ends, the relationship between it and 
the affiliating church ceases: and in the absence of this, 
any action taken by the Association towards withdrawing 
from a church, as in anyway calling that church to ac- 
count for disorder, is extra judicial and unjustifiable 
meddling with the affairs of the independent church. 

It is not intended here to dispute the right of an 
Association to disfellowship any church or individual 
for gross disorder or heresy in certain exigencies, but 
this right is no more applicable to a church that has 
heretofore affiliated with it, than to an outside church, 
that has never had any connection with it. 

At the session of 1S91 there were five hundred and 
ninety-four baptisms reported. In 1892 the Association 
alligned itself with the centennial movement inaugurated 
by the Southern Baptist Convention, and raised a cen- 
tennial fund of $1,355.95. In 1893 five hundred and 



280 History of Texas Baptists. 

thirty-eight baptisms were reported. At this session a 
committee appointed to draft resolutions expressing the 
sense of the Association on certain heresies reported, 
through Dr. Burleson, as follows: 

"Whereas, several of our churches have been greatly 
disturbed for two or three years by a heresy familiarly 
known as 'Martinism/ which is in reality only a remodel- 
ing, or conglomeration of the old heresies, known as 
Hyper- Calvanism, Two Seedism and Campbellism, yet 
this revamping of old and deadly heresies is so adroitly 
mixed up with and concealed under the dear old Bible 
doctrines of assurance, atonement and other doctrines of 
grace, that many good, unsuspecting Christians have been 
led astray, to their great injury, and to the disturbing of 
the peace of our Zion. Your committee, therefore, rec- 
ommend that Waco Association solemnly and emphatic- 
ally advise and warn all good Christians and churches 
to beware of the fatal and delusive heresies of Martinism 
on regeneration, repentance, faith, prayer and assurance. 
This last precious doctrine of assurance Martinism con- 
founds with presumption. We therefore advise all of 
our churches and pastors to observe strictly the Bible 
rule : 'If any come to you and bring not this doctrine (the 
old-time religion), receive him not into your houses, 
neither bid him God-speed, for he that biddeth him God- 
speed is partaker of his evil deeds.' " 

There were five hundred and ninety-two baptisms 
reported in 1894. In Waco alone, at a meeting held by 
the pastor, B. H. Carroll, there were one hundred and 
eight additions by baptism. In 1895 three hundred and 
thirty-seven baptisms were reported. Although the Asso- 
ciation had heretofore declared its judgment in most 



By B. F. Fuller. 281 

emphatic terms on the heresy of Martinism, yet it was 
felt to be necessary now to again define its position on 
this matter, and the following, introduced by George W. 
Truett, was adopted: 

"Whereas, in various portions of Texas, Baptist 
churches are being divided, and schismatic bodies organ- 
ized in antagonism to Baptist churches by the advocates 
of the heresy known as 'Martinism f and, 

"Whereas, at this time there seems to be a precon- 
ceived plan aggressively to propagate Martinism in Texas, 
therefore, 

"Resolved, That the Waco Association declare non- 
fellowship for the doctrines and followers of M. T. Mar- 
tin, and urge our Baptist bodies throughout the State to 
take similar action, to the end that Baptist churches and 
principles may be protected and preserved." 

The thirty-seventh annual session met with the East 
Waco church in 1896, with an enrollment of thirty-eight 
churches. The Mission Board reported $7,037.18 re- 
ceived and disbursed during the year. A general sum- 
mary made at this session shows that the contributions 
for all purposes, from the organization of the Association 
in 1860 to 1897 amount to $78,186.07, exclusive of 
pastors' salaries, church home expenses and contribu- 
tions for minutes. Also that the total number of bap- 
tisms reported is seventy-five hundred and eighty-five. 
The total membership of the Association was now about 
forty-three hundred. This summary shows also that 
there were twenty-three churches within the Association, 
that own houses of worship, the aggregate value of which 
was $81,500. 

Fortieth Annual Session. — Waco Baptist Association 



282 History of Texas Baptists. 

met with Speegleville church, September 22, 1899, with 
J. B. Kendrick in the chair. Thirty-six churches were 
enrolled, and four new churches were received. The re- 
port of the Committee on Church Letters reported as 
follows: ''Baptisms, 352; giving to all objects, 10 
churches; giving to nothing, 6 churches; to only two 
objects, 3 churches; number of churches reported, 36; 
not reported, 9 ; all have pastors except two ; 144 more 
baptisms this year than last; 29 churches report bap- 
tisms.^ It was determined that a missionary shall be 
employed for all his time at $75 per month. For all 
purposes the contributions reported amounted to $3,160. 
The present membership of the churches now affiliating 
with the Association is 5,158, as reported in the letters. 
Pending consideration of the report on State missions, 
$916 was reported to this work, to be paid by November 
1, 1899. On the election of officers B. J. Kendrick was 
made Moderator; Holmes Nichols, Clerk; and H. T. 
Vaughan, Treasurer. There are twenty-eight ordained 
ministers and thirteen licentiates in the Association. 

SODA LAKE ASSOCIATION. 

As we have already seen, this was originally Sabine 
Association, organized in November, 1843, at Union 
church, in Nacogdoches county, and that this association 
divided in 1847 on the mission question. The mission- 
ary element organized under the name of "Eastern Mis- 
sionary Baptist Association," and at its second session, 
in 1848, changed the name to Soda Lake Association, 
as better indicating the locality of the body. It soon 
embraced almost all East Texas. As Union Association 



By B. F. Fuller. 283 

was the mother of the associations in the west, so Soda 
Lake has been the mother of the associations in the east. 
During the past history of this Association a number of 
the strongest men among Texas Baptists have, at differ- 
ent times, been moderator, Samuel Herrin, who so bold- 
ly and successfully upheld the cause of missions in the 
east, being the first. Then Jesse Witt, of whom Creath 
has written: "Elder Witt was great in goodness. For 
thirty-seven years he maintained an unspotted Christian 
character, and for thirty years did he labor in his Mas- 
ter's vineyard. He was great, intellectually. As a pulpit 
orator he had not his equal inTexas." We may also 
mention the Eev. David Culberson, father of the Hon. 
David B. Culberson, so long the able Congressman from 
that district; the eloquent A. E. Clemmons, a matchless 
pulpit orator; also J. M. Griffin, W. H. McClelland, D. 
B. Hale, E. B. Blalock and E. B. Eaken. 

New Salem Association on the north, Harmony on 
the south, and Liberty on the west, were all composed 
mainly of churches from Soda Lake Association. This 
organization, connecting through the Eastern Baptist 
Association of 1847 with the Sabine, organized in 
1843, is, next to Union, the oldest Baptist association in 
the State. Since so many new associations have been 
formed, it is not now as strong as it once was. The 
session of 1899 was held with Judson church in Septem- 
ber. Only twenty-one churches were enrolled. S. M. 
Russell was elected Moderator; J. M. Callaway, Clerk; 
and W. W. Xelson, Treasurer. S. M. Russell was chosen 
missionary at a salary of $50 per month. The Associa- 
tion declared itself in full sympathy and co-operation 
with the General Convention work. 



284 History of Texas Baptists. 

TRINITY RIVER A550CIATI 

Ac the organization of this Association, as told in a 
previous chapter, there were only six churches co-oper- 
ating. As an earnest that the foundations of this pioneer 

ciation were being laid in the soundest prineip. 
the Baptist faith, we have only to remember that Z. X. 
Morrell and X. T. Byars were the moving spin 

ciation was one of the several daughters of old Union 

Association, but was in no sense the result of discord or 

: action with the parent body, but only due to its 

rapid growth and expansion. Its territory extended at 

time one hundred and fifty* miles from south to 

north. 

At this time there were twenty-six churches affiliat- 
ing with the Association, with a total membership of 
five hundred and fifty seven. In 1857, at the tent: 
sion. the minutes show thirty-four churches, with a 
membership of twelve hundred. In 1860 Waco / 
ciation was organized of churches from this Associa- 
tion. Through the vicissitudes of the war and the 
depr - f after years. Trinity River Association 

I showed great strength and activity. As r.e*v associations 
formed the territory was contracted, but this body 
still sts, and has passed its semi-centennial anniver- 
sary. It met in its forty-seventh annual session with 
Buffalo church in October. 1S95. Twenty-four churches 
- messengers. W. R. Hollis was elected Moderator, 
and J. If. Peters. Clerk. E. A. Puthuff had beer 
tained as missionary iy the assistance of the State 5 
-school Board. There had been I jht bap- 

md the minutes now showed a total membership 



By B. F. Fuller. 285 

of 1,056. The forty-ninth session, which met with Cor- 
inth church, showed little change, except that the num- 
ber of baptisms had increased to seventy-four. 

Fiftieth Annual Session. — This was the semi-centen- 
nial session of Trinity River Association. It met at 
Jewett, October 1, 1898. Twenty churches sent messen- 
gers to this meeting. W. B. Hollis was re-elected Mod- 
erator; W. T. Chase. Clerk, and K. M. Shepard, Treas- 
urer. Dr. R. C. Burleson was present, and preached the 
semi-centennial sermon. R. W. Swain, the only sur- 
vivor of the original constituent members of the Associa- 
tion of fifty years ago, was present, and was warmly 
greeted by the entire body. The minutes showed a total 
membership at this session of only about nine hundred. 
S. P. Cummings. who had been Corresponding Secre- 
tary for a great many years, was re-elected. 

SAX ANTONIO ASSOCIATION. 

As this Association has not been heretofore mentioned 
we must go somewhat back of the date proposed in this 
chapter, so as to include in this sketch its organization. 
In 185S a convention was called by some of the leading 
brethren in that section embracing Bexar and many 
other adjacent counties, to meet at Shiloh church, in 
Atascosa county, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist 
Association. At this meeting there were messengers 
from seven churches — Refugio, Goliad, St. Mary. Hel- 
ena, Escondido, Xenescestown and Hondo. The min- 
utes of this meeting are not accessible, but from other 
sources it appears that an organization was effected under 
the name of San Antonio River Association. In a few 



286 History of Texas Baptists. 

years the name was changed to San Antonio Association. 
This body covered a large territory, extending to the 
coast on the south, and embracing seven or eight coun- 
ties. 

In 1863 several other churches had affiliated with 
* the Association, and the annual meeting was with Mount 
Hope church, and nine churches co-operated. E. M, 
Currie was the Moderator, and E. A. Briggs, Clerk. S. 
C. Orchard had been employed as missionary for one- 
half his time. A committee appointed on the spiritual 
condition of the churches reported all suffering from a 
spiritual dearth. In 1864 the Association met at San 
Antonio, with messengers from nine churches. 

At the session of 1866, at Helena, fifteen churches 
were enrolled. J. X. Key was Moderator, and H. C. 
Pearcy, Clerk. At this session a negro church sent mes- 
sengers with a petitionary letter, but they were advised 
to wait until further consideration as to the propriety of 
this relation. It was afterwards determined by both 
whites and blacks that separate organizations was the 
proper policy. By 1883 the affiliating churches had in- 
. creased to twenty-five, with a total membership of one 
thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine. Eighty-six bap- 
tisms were reported. W. H. Dodson was made Moder- 
ator at this meeting, and J. J. Maurer, Clerk. 

In 1889 the Association met in San Antonio, and 
twenty-nine churches were enrolled. The first Mexican 
church and a German church were received at this meet- 
ing. In 1891 forty-five churches were enrolled, with a 
total membership of twenty-three hundred and ninety- 
six, and one hundred and seventy-one baptisms were re- 
ported. In 1892 there were thirty-eight churches; $969 



By B. F. Fuller. 28? 

had been collected during the year. The churches of the 
Association had paid out during the year for all purposes, 
including church buildings and pastors* salaries, $13,- 
962. To the session of 1893 forty-five churches sent 
messengers. This year $18,555 had been paid out by the 
churches, and the property owned by them amounted in 
value to $73,656. In 189-1 all departments of associa- 
tional work had been very prosperous. Four hundred 
and seventy-nine baptisms were reported, and seven mis- 
sionaries had been in the field. E. E. King was Moder- 
ator, and J. W. Daniels, Corresponding Secretary. Forty- 
one churches sent messengers to the session of 1895, which 
met at Charco. The letters reported two hundred and 
eighty-five baptisms. At this session a resolution was 
adopted approving the position recently taken by the 
State Convention at Belton in reference to Martinism 
and Fortunism, declaring non-fellowship with all 
churches or individuals holding to these heresies. 

Thirty-eighth Session. — San Antonio Association met 
in 1896 at Leesville, in Gonzales county. Forty-two 
churches were enrolled, with a total membership of 
thirty-one hundred and thirty-four. Two hundred and 
sixty-nine baptisms were reported. In 1898. the Asso- 
ciation met at Floresville, and thirty-seven churches 
affiliated at this meeting. W. W. Sloan was elected 
Moderator: G. W. Coltrin, Clerk, and C. D. Daniel, 
Corresponding Secretary. The number of baptisms 
reported this year was two hundred and twenty-two. The 
letter from Sandy Grove church contained a request for 
the Association to define its position on divorce and mar- 
riage, on which the Committee on Digest of Letters re- 
ported as follows: 



2 SS History :~ Texas Baptists. 

"We recommend that this body of ministers and mem- 
:f Baptist churches put itself on record as believing 
that the teachings of Christ in Matt. 5 :32, Matt. 19 :9, 
Mark 10:2-12, and Luke 16:18, forbid divorce for any 
other cause than adultery or fornication, and do not 
authorize re-marriage of the divorced. 

•■p. S. Snodgrass, 

"C. A. Brelsford, 

t. L. Roberts 

Forty-nrs: Annua] Session. — San Antonio Ac- 
tion met in IS 99 at Stockdale on the 21st of October, 
and was called to order by W. W. Sloan. Moderator of 
the last meeting. Thirty-five churches co-operated in 
this meeting by sending messengers. On permanent or- 
ganization, A. J. Harris, pastor of the First church of 
San Antonio, was elected Moderator: W. H. Blanton, 
Clerk, and W. W. Sloan. Treasurer and Corresponding 
Secretary. The total membership of the co-operating 
churches, as shown by the letters, was twenty-seven hun- 
dred and seventy-six, and two hundred and sixteen bap- 
tisms were reported. The total value of the property 
owned by the churches was $41,34-5, and the total amount 
paid out for all purposes w 7. Elder Otto Beckel- 

man, who had been for a number of years German mis- 
sionary, was again employed, and Elder Rodrigo Cruz 
was employed as Mexican missionary. 

ogest church in the Association is the First 
Baptist church of San Antonio. From its organization 
the Association had fostered a special mission 
the city of San Antonio. As a center of population it 

leemed a most important field. In December, 1 E 
Rev. John H. Thurmond, a missionary of the 



By B. F. Fuller. 289 

tion, came to the place and held a meeting of much in- 
terest, collecting together the few scattering Baptists, and 
on the 13th day of January, 1861, the First Baptist 
church of San Antonio was constituted. There were 
thirteen constituent members in the organization, of 
whom two only survive, E. C. Huston, of Floresville, and 
Mrs. Charlotte T. Jones, of San Antonio, who still holds 
membership in the church, and is active in every good 
work. Thurmond became the first pastor, and his pas- 
torate continued until 1866. | The letter to the Associa- 
tion in 1863 reports forty-one members. After the resig- 
nation of Mr. Thurmond there was no regular pastor 
until 1876. The State Convention regarded San An- 
tonio, with its rapidly increasing population of so many 
nationalities, such an important mission field, and Bap- 
tist sentiment was so weak there, that the church was 
aided and supplied most of the time by missionaries of 
the Convention. J. W. D. Creath, General Agent, de*- 
voted special attention to this mission, and in 1869 began 
the work of raising funds for a church building. Creath 
reported to the Convention in 1870 that $1,020 had been 
raised for this purpose. In 1873 Creath resigned the 
work of General Agent, and devoted his entire time and 
talent to San Antonio. 

In 1876 a special committee appointed by the Con- 
vention reported that a lot had been purchased for $1,000 
and a church building erected at a cost of $10,000. The 
church now called Dr. W. H. Dodson as pastor. In 1880 
San Antonio church was reported to the Convention as 
self-sustaining, and the property was estimated to be 
worth $15,000. Dodson continued his pastorate until 
1884, and after his resignation the pastors were in the 



290 History of Texas Baptists. 

following order : J. A. Hackett, E. C. Gates, J. N. Prest- 
ridge, E. E. King and A. J. Harris. Dr. King's resig- 
nation took effect in January, 1897. His pastorate had 
been continuous for almost seven years, and had been 
very prosperous, and the church was now strong and do- 
ing a good work. The pastorate of Brother Harris be- 
gan in January, 1897, and the fourth annual call in Jan- 
uary, 1900, was unanimous. His pastorate has been very 
prosperous, and the First Baptist church of San Antonio 
is becoming one of the strongest and most active churches 
in the State. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



TEXAS GERMAN BAPTISTS. 



Immigration from Germany had been, from our early 
history, flowing into Texas, until quite a large popula- 
tion of Germans, and of an excellent class of citizens, had 
settled principally in the western part of the State. There 
was a great deal of infidelity among them, and great in- 
terest was felt by our brethren in their conversion. Every 
avenue of approach seemed to be cut off. They could not 
speak the English language, and did not care to learn. 
But in the providence of God a German boy, by the name 
of Frank Kiefer, was led to Christ in the following man- 
ner: 

In 1854 Dr. R. C. Burleson became pastor of the In- 
dependence church, and a revival of great power was en- 
joyed. This German boy kept a cake and beer stand 
near where the meeting was in progress. Partly for 
amusement, and partly to pass away his dull hours, he 
attended the meeting. He understood little of the lan- 
guage, but the earnestness of the preacher and the deep 
feeling manifested by the congregation produced strange 
and, to him unaccountable, impressions on his mind, and 
he felt impelled to continue his attendance. Soon he 
felt a yearning desire for the unseen power that made 
those Christians happy. It was not long until he was 
converted, and on a confession of his faith was baptized 
by Dr. Burleson. He soon made known that he was deep- 
(291) 



292 History of Texas Baptists. 

ly impressed that his life-work was to preach the Gospel. 
Dr .Burleson then took him to Baylor University and 
educated him, and he was prepared for the ministry. 
He was a bright student, and learned to speak the Eng- 
lish language fluently, as well as the German. 

In 1858 he was ordained to the full work of the min- 
istry, and was made missionary by the State Convention. 
In 1860 he held a protracted meeting in a German settle- 
ment in Washington county, and a number were con- 
verted. In 1861 he, in conjunction with some other min- 
isters, organized the first German Baptist church in 
Texas. This church was organized in the house of Mr. 
Miller, at Greenvine, in Washington county, and was 
called Ebenezer, and is still a flourishing church. The 
minutes of Union Association for 1871 show the mem- 
bership of this church to be one hundred and thirty-one, 
and supporting a pastor for his whole time. The war 
coming on, little could be done until its close. Brother 
Kiefer, who was the only German Baptist preacher in 
Texas until 1868, still held the field, with varying suc- 
cess. 

Xow F. J. Gleiss, who had been a Methodist preacher 
for seven years, embraced the tenets of the Baptist faith, 
and he, with his wife, united with Ebenezer church. They 
were baptized by Brother Kiefer, and he was soon or- 
dained, and set apart to the full work of a Baptist min- 
ister. He at once became pastor of this church, thus be- 
coming the first German Baptist pastor in Texas. He 
was an earnest and faithful minister, and the Lord 
blessed his labors among his people abundantly. He and 
Kiefer labored together with great success among their 
people for several years, until Kiefer went abroad as a 



Texas German Baptists. 293 

missionary, leaving Gleiss alone in his labors, which were 
greatly blessed. 

On the 20th day of November, 1869, the second Ger- 
man Baptist church in Texas was organized at Cedar 
Hill,, in Washington county, and called Cedar Hill 
church. About this time Eev. F. Keisig arrived from 
London, and became pastor of Cedar Hill church. From 
these small beginnings, and through many trials and 
discouragements, the German Baptists in Texas have 
steadily advanced to a strong and prosperous body of 
consecrated Christian workers in the great Baptist broth- 
erhood of Texas. They now have sixteen churches and 
twelve pastors, with a total membership of eight hun- 
dred. Every church has its own meeting-house, and ten 
of them own also parsonages for the use of the pastor; 
and every church has a Sunday-school. The following is 
a complete list of the churches, with their location and 
date of organization: 

GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN TEXAS. 
NAME. PLACE. COUNTY. . . ORGANIZED. 

Ebenezer Greenvine Washington 1861 

Cedar Hill Cedar Hill Washington 1869 

Lebanon Harwood Gonzales 1876 

Houston. .... .Houston Harris 1879 

Elm Creek O'Daniel Guadalupe 1883 

Brenham Brenham Washington 1884 

Bethel King Coryell 1886 

Cottonwood. . . Moreville McClellan 1884 

Denton.* Denton Denton 1886 

Kyle Kyle Hays 1886 

Waco Waco McClellan 1890 

Dallas Dallas . Dallas 1891 

Canaan Coryell City. . Coryell . 1891 

Salem Needville Fort Bent 1893 

Blue Mount. . .Blue Mount. . .Denton 1894 

Hurnville Henrietta. .'. . .Archer 1894 



294 History of Texas Baptists. 

GERMAN CONFERENCE. 

For the year 1884 the German Conference was or- 
ganized, which is the same in its general features as -our 
associations. The seven German Baptist churches in the 
State at that time all went into this organization, having 
a total membership of about three hundred. The min- 
isters participating in this organization were F. Kiefer, 
F. J. Gleiss, J. Gronde, A. Hausler, F. W. Becker and 
J. E. Sydow. This Conference has continued to hold its 
annual meetings regularly, and has kept a missionary 
in the field, who has been well sustained. Since the or- 
ganization of this Conference the Moderators have been 
as follows: F. J. Gleiss, A. Hausler, L. Glaser, F. A. 
Petereit, F. Heisig and F. Sievers. A complete list of 
ordained ministers now, in 190, included in this Con- 
ference, is as follows : F. J. Gleiss, J. Gronde, J. E. 
Sydow, A. Hausler, F. A. Petereit, F. Sievers, A. Stern, 
C. Keller, C. Ohlgart, D. Kuchenbecker, A. Becker, 0. 
Beckelman and F. Heisig. 

At the session of the German Conference in 1894 
they decided to drop their co-operation with the Northern 
Board and do all their work through the General Con- 
vention, and make all their contributions through that 
board, looking to it for all their help. In 1895, it ap- 
pears from the reports that while the total membership 
of their sixteen churches was only eight hundred, their 
contributions had averaged about $2 per annum, which 
is a splendid showing. There had been three mission- 
aries employed, and seventy-one baptisms were reported. 
There seems to be an increased influence towards Amer- 
icanizing all classes, and as they become, year by year, 



Texas German Baptists. 295 

more and more assimilated to our American churches, 
there is less disposition to confine themselves exclusively 
to German churches. The Germans, as a rule, are hard 
to reach, and slow to move in religious matters. There 
is not an open door that seems very inviting, but there 
is great stability when they once accept our faith, and 
they are, by all odds, the most liberal givers to all mis- 
sionary enterprises. 

MEXICAN CHURCHES. 

The Mexicans, as a general rule, are very unlike the 
Germans. They lack the firmness and strength of pur- 
pose so apparent among the latter. They are very ap- 
proachable, however, and there is an open door for the 
Gospel, but they require constant training and support. 
Their churches fall easily into disorder, and need con- 
stant encouragement. In 1S87 there was a Baptist 
church organized among the Mexicans at Laredo by W. 
M. Flournoy, a missionary to Mexico. In June, 1888, 
Dr. TV. D. Powell, who had been a missionary in Mexico, 
came to San Antonio with an invalid daughter, and be- 
gan preaching among the Mexicans. Soon there was a 
great awakening among them, and many were converted. 
Among those baptized by him was Amanuel Trevino, 
who had been a preacher among the Presbyterians. He 
was ordained, and at once appointed by the board to 
labor among his people at that place. His salary was 
guaranteed by that noble Christian woman of Dallas, 
Miss Eliza McCoy, who continued to pay it for several 
years. Miss Mina Everett was also appointed to this 
work to labor among the women. 



296 History of Texas Baptists. 

In 1889 Trevino reported thirty-seven baptisms, and 
one church organized at San Antonio. In 1891 Rev. C. 
D. Daniel, of San Antonio, was employed as general mis- 
sionary to the Mexicans, and two more churches were 
organized, making now four active working Mexican 
Baptist churches in Texas. The church building at San 
Antonio had also been completed, principally by the 
labors of Miss Mina Everett. In 1892 a church was 
organized at El Paso, under the leadership of Dr. Alex 
Marchand, who pushed the work with such zeal that in 
1893 it numbered one hunflred members. There were 
now nine churches in the State, almost wholly of Mex- 
ican citizens, located as follows : San Antonio, San Mar- 
cos, Reedville, Del Rio, New Berlin, Pecos, Laredo, San 
Angelo and El Paso. 

Brother C. D. Daniel, in connection with his pastoral 
work at San Antonio, has for several years had the over- 
sight of the missionary work among the Mexican popula- 
tion, and the work there is making some progress. It is 
impossible, however, for him to give personal attention 
to other portions of the field, but the outlook generally 
is encouraging. In December, 1899, the State Board 
employed Brother Daniel for his whole time to labor 
among the Mexicans, and he has given up pastoral work, 
and is now devoting his whole time to the Mexican mis- 
sion work. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

buckner orphans' home, from its first conception 
in 1877. 

This is a strictly non-sectarian charity, open to all 
churches and all people, and to the world. Its property, 
however, is secured to the Baptists forever, and is in- 
alienable. It is located about seven miles east- of the city 
of Dallas, on the Texas & Pacific railroad. We cannot 
better show the origin and early history of this institution 
than to quote from the report of the General Manager 
to the Board of Directors, adopted October 3, 1893, as 
follows : 

"On the 7th day of December, 1877, as editor of the 
Texas Baptist, Rev. R. C. Buckner addressed the first 
of a series of open letters to the deacons of Texas 
churches on the practical duties of their office, and for 
the first time intimated a purpose, previously formed 
in his own •mind, to form an orphanage, which should be 
extensively under the control of deacons. These edi- 
torial letters were continued through several months to 
beget an interest, and then, at his request, Deacon W. 
H. Trollinger called for a convention of deacons, to meet 
at Paris, July 17, 1878. 

"First Meeting. — : At that meeting a resolution was 
adopted, embracing these words : 'Resolved, That we en- 
deavor to establish an Orphans' Home/ and Dr. Buck- 
ner was appointed General Superintendent of the enter- 
prise, with several good brethren to assist in raising funds. 
Predictions of failure were rife. A distinguished United 

(297) 



298 History of Texas Baptists. 

States Senator, who had been a personal friend from his 
boyhood, said: 'Robert, yon don't know what yon are 
abont ; your plans are in violation of business principles.' 
The charge of impracticability came from high places. 
One said : 'It would be folly to commence with less than 
$75,000/ But his faith was not shaken in the least, and 
he has never ieared or for a moment doubted the success 
of the enterprise, so he has often said. 

"Before a great while an offer of twelve hundred 
acres of land was made as a bonus to secure the location 
in Tarrant county, and another of three hundred acres 
and $1,000 cash was proposed to secure the location in 
Eastern Texas ; but on account of criticism the first was 
withdrawn; the second was paralyzed by certain oppo- 
sition. 

"Site Bought.— On the 25th day of September, 1880, 
Dr. Buckner selected a tract of forty-four acres of land, 
where the buildings now stand, belonging to J. F. Pin- 
son, for which he asked $500 cash. Two days thereafter 
the Board of Directors convened on the spot, approved 
it, the money was paid, and then and there the 'Home' 
was 

"Dedicated, September 27, 1880, in a cedar log 
house, fourteen by eighteen feet, which had been built 
as a residence by a pioneer, John Xeely Bryant, in 1841, 
and was the first house within a radius of one hundred 
miles of where the city of Dallas now stands (save a 
picket tent on the bank of Trinity river, which he occu- 
pied while building). It was also Dallas' first postoffice 
later on, and was afterwards removed to its present site. 
The dedication services were led by the Manager, R. C. 
Buckner, with only a quorum of the Board of Directors 
to participate, as no announcement had been made. The 
members of the board present were: E. F. Brown, Presi- 
dent; J. R. Rodgers, Secretary; J. M. Graves, Treasurer; 
Sam Smith and L. H. Tilman. 

"First Opened. — But in the meantime the institu- 



By B. F. Fuller. 299 

tion had been opened, December 2, 1879, in a rented 
cottage in Dallas, with only three children. 

"First Building. — In the spring of 1881 a frame 
house sufficient for twenty-five children was erected on 
the forty-four acres purchased, at a cost of $841 . 19, and 
the young institution was then opened with eight chil- 
dren, in its own domicile, April 5, 1881, land and house 
paid for, and $59.45 cash on hand. This, with cost of 
the land, made the value of the property only $1,400 . 64, 
after nearly four years' work. 

"Foundation Work. — This was foundation work and 
progress was slow. There were all the usual officers and 
committees, but the location was in the country, money 
was needed when on hand, before it could be had from 
the Treasurer by the usual forms ; committees were hard 
to assemble, and were a hindrance. But the board soon 
dispensed with all such hindrances and frictions, declared 
that Dr. Buckner 'had always been the absolute Manager 
of the institution/ and, passing a sweeping resolution, 
made him 'General Manager unconditionally/ and set 
him at liberty in an open field, formally, as he had been 
practically. 

"Enlargement. — The General Manager then bought 
additional lands on his own judgment and his own per- 
sonal credit, and made improvements in the same way, 
as all financial 'obligations had been from the beginning, 
and are still carried by him personally. All deeds were 
made, however, to the 'Home/ in its own incorporated 
name, no individual owning, or being able to claim or 
inherit, any interest in the property. He repeatedly 
mortgaged or otherwise encumbered his own property, to 
secure unencumbered titles to the lands bought for the 
'Home.' Other buildings were erected, stock, furniture, 
barn and school house provided, and a family of sixty- 
five orphans was gathered and cared for. 

"The Manager's First Contribution. — Up to this 
period the Manager had never received a dollar for his 



300 History of Texas Baptists 

work, but ma": - a free-will offering all the time, care, 
toil and anxiety, which, with the aid of good friends, had 
founded and enlarged what was then recognized as a I 
and flourishing institution. Ho afterwards _ $' 
at one time, and $2,00( at another, besides other smaller 
amounts at intervals. A sufficient apology for the st 
ment of these facts in this connection is that the re-affir- 
mation and indorsement by the board, in the adoption of 
this report, will put to silence some g :s. whose 

unjust criticisms were mortifying, and it will also show 
the encouraging contrast between the small beginning 
made under unfavorable cirev s and the present 

prosperous condition of the institution." 

This great institution, the pride and i jy of Texas 
Baptists, and of which the whole State is a beneficiary, 

monument to the judgment and faith of its founder 
and promoter. It has continued under the very efficient 
management of Dr. Buckner, as the General Manager, 
to the present time, and grown and widen a of 

ir. until its achievements, capacity 
and possibilities have far surpassed the most sanguine 
expectations of its early friends. Its success has been 
unprecedented, considering its small beginnings, mc 

:rces and surrounding embarrassments. Up to Oc- 
tober the report of the Superintendent shows that 
fifteen hundred children had been cared for in the Home 
since it was founded. These had come from one hundred 
and twenty counties in Texas, twenty-seven American 
States and eleven different nations. They have come 

from families connected with all denomination 
Christians, as well as Jews and infidels. The Home is 
managed by Dr. Buckner as a great, well regulated fam- 
ily, having all their industrial and moral training within 



By B. F. Fuller. 301 

the Home. The children are trained and educated in all 
trades and industries useful in the battles of life that lie 
before them, whether males or females. Literary train- 
ing is carefully looked after in the various schools within 
the Home. For moral and religious influences there is 
a church, with regular religious services, and a Sunday- 
school. 

The report of the Superintendent, made in October, 
1897, shows the average number of children for the past 
year to be three hundred and thirty, and that they were 
supported for the year at $65 per capita. The total re- 
ceipts and disbursements during the year were $40,600. 
In 1898 the General Manager's report, which was ap- 
proved by an Auditing Committee, shows that there was 
belonging to the Home at that time more than $200,000 
worth of unincumbered property, and three hundred and 
sixty-five children were then in the Home ; that from the 
beginning this institution had cared for two thousand 
orphan children and thirty-five homeless widows. All 
this had been accomplished without a dollar to start with. 
Dr. Buckner began this great work without having an 
agent to solicit funds, but by faith in God, and reliance 
on the generous promptings and charitable impulses of 
the people, and by incessant toil and burden-bearing, 
all his efforts were crowned with God's abundant bless- 
ings. Dr. Buckner, in the plenitude of his faith, depend- 
ed alone on individual voluntary contributions, without 
personal solicitations. When these did not meet the 
emergencies he would draw upon his own individual 
means, or pledge his individual credit. During the past 
year alone $32,063.36 had been received and paid out 
for all purposes. 



302 History of Texas Baptists. 

The splendid success that had hitherto favored this 
enterprise was not by any means accepted as the full 
measure of its possibilities. Instead of resting upon the 
victory already gained, new hopes and new desires were 
inspired, opening the way for new schemes, reaching out 
still further to extend the area of usefulness. In 1897 
Dr. Buckner turned his attention to the establishment 
of an auxiliary department for special purposes, that 
could not be so well carried out at the Home in the 
country. The nature of this new enterprise is sufficiently 
explained by Dr. Buckner's report of 1897, as follows: 

"Then I turned careful attention to my long-cher- 
ished purpose, to enlarge and add other important fea- 
tures to the capacity and charities of the great institu- 
tion, by purchase of property in the city of Dallas, which 
was for the contemplated new feature of the work, that 
could not be so conveniently, economically or successfully 
conducted in the country. 

"(a) The temporary care and transfer of homeless 
orphans, separate from those to be kept for education and 
training. 

"(b) The care and treatment of maimed, deformed 
or otherwise afflicted orphans and destitute children need- 
ing treatment by skilled surgeons and other specialists, 
for which class of orphans specially no institution has 
ever been established anywhere, so far as I know. 

"With this enterprise in view I had, three years pre- 
vious, induced the Board of Directors to allow a change 
in the charter, making suitable specific provisions for it, 
by promising them not to canvass outside the city for 
money to secure suitable property. The opportunity for 
investing in suitable property came before a dollar had 
been raised. The property on which I had my eye, if not 
my heart, was placed on the market through the agent of 
non-residents — the same property I rented years previous 



By B. F. Fuller. 303 

for opening orphan work with three children before the 
Home had been located. To celebrate the sixty-fourth 
anniversary of my birth (January 3, 1897), then fast 
approaching, I bargained for the place at the very mod- 
erate price of $6,000, and assumed personally the entire 
responsibility of paying for it, so as to embarrass neither 
the board nor any person whatever. The transfer of title 
was to be made January 4, as the 3d would fall on Sun- 
day. Abstract of title was to be prepared, and deed for- 
warded to Boston, Mass., the home of the vendors, for 
their signatures ; and while this was being done I secured 
contributions from some personal friends, amounting to 
$500, by the day the deed was ready, January 4. At that 
time I borrowed $2,500 from the National Exchange 
Bank, of Dallas, on my own personal assets, and execut- 
ing to the vendors my personal note for $3,000, on easy 
time, and received a deed to the property, executed to 
Buckner Orphans' Home, retaining no sort of claim to 
protect myself." 

This annex in the city was placed in charge of a 
matron, and telegraph connection made with the office 
at the Home in the country. In 1898 the number of the 
inmates at the annex in the city averaged sixteen ; twenty 
had been transferred to the Home in the country, and 
seven sent to childless homes; twenty-three had been 
treated by specialists for various chronic disorders; nine 
cured and returned to the Home, and seven returned to 
friends. But alas ! how uncertain are all our prospects. 
How soon this bright picture was overshadowed by an 
appalling catastrophe! Brother Buckner was called to 
look upon a spectacle calculated to crush all his hopes. 
In his report he says : 

"Within two weeks after the purchase of the city 
property had been accomplished, came, January 15, 1897, 



304 History of Texas Baptists. 

a terrible holocaust, consuming the boys' buildings, all 
their winter clothing, bedding, and much other valuable 
property, including tools and machinery, amounting in 
all to about $20,000. But far more deplorable was the 
death of twenty children, who perished in the flames, and 
later on, as the result of injuries received during the fire. 
When the sad news was spread abroad, prompt and liberal 
contributions for relief came spontaneously, and sufficient 
to give entire temporary relief (except as to buildings), 
and left in cash, specifically for building purposes, in- 
cluding all collections for building since that date, $5,- 
158.02. To this were added from time to time various 
sums of money received then and since for the support of 
the Home and current expenses." 

The report of 1899 shows a continued prosperity of 
the Home. There had been an average of three hundred 
and sixty-five children at the Home during the past year. 
There had been received and expended for the various 
needs of the Home the sum of $28,551.56. Among 
other things, about $4,000 had been spent in the com- 
pletion of the boys' building, which is now a beautiful 
structure, worth of itself $60,000. 

The greatest enthusiasm and interest in the support 
of the Home was manifest in the Convention, and on 
hearing the report read, $5,600 was subscribed in the 
meeting. On the second day of the session, just after 
Dr. Buckner had been declared elected President of the 
General Convention by unanimous vote, about two hun- 
dred orphan children from the Home, headed by Dr. 
Buckner, who had been waiting on the outside until the 
vote should be finally declared, entered the hall, passing 
down the aisle, in front of the platform, and took a po- 
sition on the stage, where Dr. Buckner spoke a few words 



By B. F. Fuller. 305 

in behalf of the Home, The children sang a beautiful 
song. Some one immediately proposed another contri- 
bution, and it came spontaneously from every part of the 
vast auditorium, until $4,000 was pledged, in addition 
to former pledges. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION, FROM THE CONSOLI- 
DATION OF THE GENERAL BODIES ON THE 9TH DAY 
OF DECEMBER, 1885, TO THE PRESENT TIME. 

It will be remembered that, at a joint conference of 
the general missionary bodies of the State, held at Tem- 
ple on the 9th day of December,1885, articles of con- 
solidation were adopted, and the consolidated body was 
designated "The Baptist General Convention of Texas." 
Its first meeting was appointed for Tuesday before the 
first Sunday in July, 1886, at Waco. The General Con- 
vention accordingly met on the 29th day of June, 1886, 
in its first session. A. T. Spaulding was elected Presi- 
dent, and 0. H. P. Garrett and S. J. Anderson were elect- 
ed Secretaries. Two hundred and fifty churches and 
twenty-two associations were enrolled. A. J. Holt was 
elected Superintendent of Missions and Corresponding 
Secretary. Redin Andrews, Tully Choice and F. Kiefer 
were elected Vice Presidents. The committee to nomi- 
nate a Board of Directors for the General Convention 
presented a list, which was adopted, as follows: 

B. II. Carroll, J. B. Link, R. C. Burleson, W. H. 
Jenkins, F. L. Carroll. J. S. Allen, A. W. Dunn, C. 
Faulkner, S. B. Humphries, J. T. Battle, G. W. Pickett, 
F. M. Law, M. V. Smith, J. H. Stribling, A. E. Clem- 
mons, J. T. Harris, W. E. Tynes, R. T. Hanks, W. L. 
Williams, R. J. Sledge, George Yarborough, J. A. Hack- 

(306) 



By B. F. Fuller. 307 

ett, G. W. Smith, Wm. Wedemeyer, W. H. Dodson. S. 
G. Muffins, J. M. C. Breaker, A. E. Baten. B. W. N. 
Simnis and T. S. Potts. 

These, together with the officers of the convention, 
who are ex-o cio members, constitute the board, which 
was located at Waco. On taking up a collection for State 
missions, 83,357 was raised, and $1,777 was subscribed to 
the endowment fund for Baylor University. The com- 
mittee appointed to prepare a constitution for the Con- 
vention, composed of B. H. Carroll, F. M. Law, R. T. 
Hanks. W. H. Dodson and E. Z. F. Golden, presented 
the following, which was adopted : 

ARTICLE I. 

Section 1. The name of this body shall be the Bap- 
tist General Convention of Texas. 

Sec 2. The object of this Convention shall be mis- 
sionary and educational, the promotion of harmony of 
feeling and concert of action among Baptists, and a sys- 
tem of operative measures for the promotion of the inter- 
est of the Redeemers kingdom; but no individual en- 
terprise shall be formally entertained or acted on by this 
body. 

ARTICLE II. — MEMBERSHIP. 

Section 1. This body shall be composed of messen- 
gers from regular Baptist churches, and associations of 
Baptist churches, and Baptist missionary societies, co- 
operating with the Convention. 

Sec. 2. Each church shall be entitled to two mes- 
sengers, and one additional messenger for each $25 con- 
tributed to the funds of the Convention, and in no case 
shall any one church be entitled to more than eight mes- 
sengers. 



308 History of Texas Baptists. 

Sec. 3. Each association shall be allowed two mes- 
sengers, and one additional for each $100 expended in 
missionary work done within its own bounds, and one 
additional for every $100 contributed to the funds of this 
Convention. 

Sec. -A. Any Baptist missionary society shall be al- 
| lowed one messenger for every $25 contributed to the 
funds of this body, and in no case shall any society be 
entitled to more than four messengers. 

ARTICLE III. DONATIONS AXD POWERS, 

Section 1. All donations to the objects of this Con- 
vention shall be strictly applied according to the ex- 
pressed will and directions of the donors. 

Sec. 2. The Convention does not have, and shall 
never attempt to exercise a single attribute of power or 
authority over any church, but it cheerfully recognizes the 
absolute sovereignty of the churches. 

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS. 

Section 1. The officers of this Convention shall be 

a President, three Vice Presidents, a Corresponding Sec- 

> retary. two Recording Secretaries, and a Treasurer, who 

! shall be elected annually by ballot, and shall hold their 

offices until their successors are elected, and they shall 

be ex-ofticio members of the Board of Director* 

Sec. 2. It -hall be the duty of the President to pre- 
side over the deliberations of the Convention, and to dis- 
charge such other duties as are usually incumbent on the 
presiding officers of deliberative bodies. He shall ap- 
point all committees, unless the Convention shall other- 
wise determine, and in his absence one of the Vice Presi- 
dents shall fill his place. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Recording Secre- 
taries to keep a fair record of the proceedings of the Con- 



By B. F. Fuller. 309 

vention, and to file and keep all papers in order, deemed 
important to be preserved. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Corresponding 
Secretary to conduct all the correspondence of the Con- 
vention and the Board of Directors. He shall make an 
annual report in writing of all matters he may deem 
important. 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to take 
charge of all moneys belonging to the Convention, and to 
dispose of the same as he may be directed by the Conven- 
tion or Board of Directors. 

Sec. 6. The election of officers shall take place as 
soon as the Convention is organized (except the Corre- 
sponding Secretary and Treasurer, who may be elected 
at any time during the session of the Convention after 
the first day), and the names of the members present 
recorded. 

Sec. 7. The highest number of votes shall constitute 
a choice in all cases except for President and Treasurer, 
which shall require for election a majority of the votes 
cast. 

ARTICLE V. BOARDS. 

Section 1. The Convention shall appoint five boards, 
as follows: 

(1) The Board of Directors of the Baptist General 
Convention, to consist of thirty members, three of whom 
shall be nominated by the President and approved by the 
Convention, and seven of the board shall constitute a 
quorum. 

(2) A Board of Trustees of Baylor University, to 
consist of not more than thirteen. 

(3) A Board of Trustees of Baylor Female College. 

(4) A Board of Trustees of the Baptist General 
Convention, to consist of five members, who shall hold in 
trust all properties and invested funds. 

(5) A Ministers' Eelief Board of the Baptist Gen- 



310 History of Texas Baptists. 

eral Convention, consisting of thirteen members, five of 
whom shall be a quorum. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The Board of Directors shall have power to appoint 
an Assistant Superintendent of Missions to aid the Cor- 
responding Secretary. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The Convention shall meet annually at such time 
and place as the Convention may appoint, and the Board 
of Directors shall have power to call a meeting of the 
Convention. 



ARTICLE VIII. 

This Constitution shall not be changed or amended, 
unless the change or amendment be offered on the first 
day of the annual session, and lie over to some subse- 
quent day, and then only by a two-thirds majority. 

The second annual session was held at the First 
Baptist church of Dallas, and A. T. Spalding was again 
elected President. It appears from the report of the 
Board of Directors that one hundred and twenty mis- 
sionaries had been in the field during the year, and that 
$31,960.28 had been collected and expended for mission 
work. Not quite so many churches affiliated at this ses- 
sion as the former, but there were forty-one associa- 
tions. A. J. Holt was continued as Superintendent of 
"Missions. A committee on the liquor traffic reported as 
follows : 



By B. F. Fuller. 311 

"Your committee, to which was referred the ques- 
tion, 'What should be the attitude of Baptists towards 
the liquor traffic r respectfully compress their answer 
into one short phrase — fenceless, uncompromising, eter- 
nal war. 

"B. H. Carroll, 
"J. B. Cranfill." 

The third session of the General Convention con- 
vened at Belton, October 5. 1888, and A. T. Spaulding. 
of Galveston, was again made President, and f T. B. Cran- 
fill and J. M. Carroll, Secretaries. The report of the 
Board of Directors was presented by Corresponding Sec- 
retary A. J. Holt. It showed a magnificent record for 
the past year. The missionary work was prosperous 
everywhere in the State; one hundred and thirty mis- 
sionaries had been maintained on the field, and $29,- 
508.57 had been raised for their support. There had 
been thirty-six hundred and eighty-nine baptisms, and 
one hundred and fifty-four churches and two hundred 
and sixty-five Sunday-schools had been organized. The 
missionaries had carried the Gospel to almost every in- 
habited part of our great State, traveling 171,625 miles 
on their mission work. Pledges for the ensuing year 
amounted to 85,503.75. and for foreign missions. $1,- 
831. A. J. Holt was continued Superintendent of Mis- 
sions. 

The session of 1SS9 was held at the First Baptist 
church, of Houston. Spaulding was still continued as 
President. T. S. Potts, of Bonham, and A. E. Baten, 
of Xavasota, were chosen Secretaries. The report of 
the board was read by the Corresponding Secretary. One 
hundred and eight missionaries had been employed, and 



312 History of Texas Baptists. 

$23,789.88 had been collected. There had been during 
the year, twelve hundred and ninety-one baptisms, and 
ninety churches and two hundred and eleven Sunday- 
schools had been organized. For foreign missions, $2,- 
296.75 was pledged, and $4,407.10 for State missions. 
At this session a committee was appointed to act in con- 
junction with a like committee from Union Association 
to investigate the unauthorized sale of the college prop- 
erty at Independence, belonging to Baylor University and 
Baylor Female College, which had been turned over to 
Union Association when these institutions were removed 
from Independence. A. J. Holt having declined a re- 
election, J. B. Cranflll was nominated for Corresponding 
Secretary and Superintendent of Missions, and on motion 
of S. A. Hayden was elected by acclamation. In acknowl- 
edgment of the splendid services of the retiring Superin- 
tendent the Convention adopted the following: 

"Whereas, Rev. A. J. Holt has declined to accept 
the position of Corresponding Secretary of the Conven- 
tion, be it 

"Resolved, That we express our appreciation of the 
ability and fidelity with which he has discharged his 
official duties during the term he has served the Con- 
vention." 

A committee on the old college property at Inde- 
pendence reported, through F. M. Law, Chairman, rec- 
ommending that the trustees of the University and Col- 
lege convey all the interest of these schools to Union 
Association. 

The Convention of 1890 was held at Waxahaehie. 
L. L. Foster was elected President, and the other old 
officers were continued. The sixth annual session of the 



By B.F. Fuller. 313 

General Convention held its session in the First Baptist 
church of Waco in October, 1891. L. L. Foster was 
again elected President, and Potts and Baten continued 
Secretaries. The matter of the transfer of the old Col- 
lege property at Independence was again brought before 
the body, and referred to another committee. The Cor- 
responding Secretary, J. B. Cranfill, presented the re- 
port of the board. No greater year's mission work had 
ever been done in our State; -$40,525. 88 had been col- 
lected and expended in the work, maintaining one hun- 
dred and forty-three missionaries in the field. There 
had been twenty-four hundred and thirty-two baptisms, 
and six thousand and forty-one received into the 
churches. For foreign missions, $2,844 . 25 was pledged. 
The Committee on Independence School Property re- 
ported, and again recommended to transfer to Union 
Association. For State missions for the following year, 
$5,816.46 in cash and pledges was raised. Elder J. 
M. Carroll, who had been appointed Statistical Secre* 
tary, reported his work to the Convention. His sum- 
mary embraces the following items as to the Baptists 
in Texas at this time : 

Number of churches, 2,221 ; number of associations. 
87; net gain during the year, 8,987. Paid out for all 
purposes during the year, $266,995.70, but nearly one- 
half of the churches failed to contribute anything to any 
mission work. Number of Baptist preachers in the 
State is 1,971, only 889 of these being pastors. 

The Convention met in 1892 at Belton. Dr. E. C. 
Burleson was elected President, and J. M. Carroll was 
made Corresponding Secretary. At this session a change 
was made in the plan of mission work, so as to consoli- 



314 History of Texas Baptists. 

date under one management all the different depart- 
ments of mission work in the State, under the control 
of the Board of Directors of the General Convention. 

In 1893 the Convention met at Gainesville. R. C. 
Burleson was re-elected President; A. E. Baten and J. 
H. Truett, Secretaries, and J. M. Carroll, Correspond- 
ing Secretary. The report of the Board of Directors 
of the Convention was presented by the Corresponding 
Secretary. The report complains that many hindrances 
and perplexities during the year have greatly embarrassed 
their work; $11,379.76 had been collected on the field, 
and one hundred and five missionaries had been em- 
ployed. There had been fifteen hundred and sixty-eight 
baptisms, and sixty-two churches and eighty-four Sun- 
day-schools had been organized. The total collections 
for all departments of the work amounted to $42,653.42. 
The Corresponding Secretary makes the following sta- 
tistical statement of the strength of the Baptists in 
Texas at this time: 

Membership — White, 130,000; colored, 90,000; to- 
tal, 220,000. 

Churches— White, 2.400 ; colored, 1,343 ; total, 3,743. 

Preachers— White, 2,300; colored, 900; total, 3,200. 

Associations — White, 92 ; colored, 32 ; total, 124. 

It was made known at this session that the University 
property at Independence, that had been transferred to 
Union Association, and which had been unlawfully sold 
to the Catholic church, was now being occupied as a 
negro Catholic orphanage, and that Union Association 
had brought suit for its recovery. 

Before the next session convened there began to be 
complaints that the expenses of the board were exces- 



By B. F. Fu 315 

sive. At the board meeting at Waco in April. 1894, a 
member amht me matter directly before 

that body by proposing a reduction :i salaries, clerks 5 
hire. etc. The board, however, failed to take any definite 
action on this proposition at that time. 

Xinth Annual Session. — The General Convention 
met a: xTarshall in 1:9-. R. C. Burleson was elec 
President, and M. P. Early was made Corresponding 
Secretary for the ensuing year. The report of the board 
was read by J. M. Carroll. Corresponding Secretary. 
The year was commenced with a debt of S6.-219 . TO. 
which has been entirely paid, and the Convention wae 
now wholly free of debt. There had been received $41,- 
887.97 during the year: one hundred and five mission- 
's had been employed, and fifteen hundred and fifty- 
four baptisms were reported. In his statistical summary 
the Secretary places me total mtrease in membership in 
file State during the year at 30,157; decrease, 17,897; 
making a net gain of 12,260. That the total expendi- 
tures for all denominational purposes had been $292,- 
56; and the total membership of Texas Baptists is 
pat at about 300.000, including both white and black. 

Tenth Session. — The Baptist General Convention of 
Texas met in its tenth ; e-~:m at Belton in October, 
1S95. President E. C. Buckner called the Convention 
to order, and appointed a Committee on Enrollment, 
when the following resolutions were adopted: 

'•Whereas. Baptists recognize ''Articles of Faith' as 
expressions of what they believe the Bible teaches m 
doctrines distinguishing us from people of other faiths; 
and. 

"•Whereas. Baptist churches in this country have 



316 History of Texas Baptists. 

subscribed to the Declaration of Principles, as set forth 
in 'Pendleton's Manual'" and Hiscox's Directory; and, 

"Whereas, a school has appeared among us who open- 
ly say they do not believe the expressions as taught in 
said Articles of Faith are supported by the Word of 
God, and do not indorse them; and, 

"Whereas, this Convention is supposed to be com- 
posed of delegates from churches indorsing and teaching 
God's Word in harmony with said Articles of Faith, 
therefore, 

"Resolved, That we seat as delegates only those who 
come from regular Missionary Baptist churches, sub- 
scribing to these Articles of Faith." 

After the Committee on Enrollment had made its 
report, before any action was taken on it, the Conven- 
tion adopted the following resolution, offered by W. A. 
Jarrell : 

"Whereas, this body is based on what Baptist Articles 
of Faith declare, therefore, 

''Resolved. That no one be recognized a member of 
this body who holds and teaches any doctrine contrary to 
them of such importance as that no Christian ever has 
doubted or ever can doubt that he is saved, known as a 
part of 'Martinism,' or that Christ is not the believer's 
substitute, penalty and righteousness — a doctrine held 
by 'Fortunism/ " 

Without taking any direct action on this resolution 
the Convention adopted the following: 

"Resolved, That this whole question of eligibility to 
membership be referred to a special committee of five, 
which shall report to the Convention when permanently 
organized." 



By B. F. Fuller. 317 

On permanent organization the old officers were con- 
tinued, except M. D. Early was elected Corresponding 
Secretary. The report of the Board of Directors was 
read by M. D. Early, who had been appointed Corre- 
sponding Secretary in January, on the resignation of 
J. M. Carroll. This report was a very voluminous one, 
and covered the whole field of missions. From all 
sources for all purposes, $32,795.71 had been collected. 
Ninety-three missionaries had been employed, and fif- 
teen hundred and sixteen baptisms were reported. The 
special committee of five appointed on the question of 
eligibility to membership presented the following report, 
which was adopted: 

"Your committee, to whom was referred the question 
of eligibility to membership, on all resolutions relating 
to that subject, submit the following: 

"Kesolved, (1) That it is the sense of this Conven- 
tion that Article 2, Section 1, of the Constitution, suffi- 
ciently expresses the fact that the Convention is com- 
posed of persons chosen by churches, associations and 
missionary societies as their messengers, and that when 
said persons are convened they, and not the churches, 
are the Convention. The Constitution of the Conven- 
tion declares that these persons must be messengers from 
such bodies as are defined by it — the Constitution. 
The expression, 'regular Baptist churches/ means such 
organizations as hold the doctrines of the Bible on funda- 
mental questions, as were commonly received by Baptists 
at the time the Constitution was adopted. The right to 
determine what kind of organizations may be represented, 
and by how many messengers, which this Convention has 
by its Constitution reserved to itself, carries with it the 
right to inquire whether persons seeking seats as mem- 
bers here come from such defined organizations, and to 
refuse them seats if they do not. 



318 History of Texas Baptists. 

"Resolved, (2) Strictly in accord with the Constitu- 
tion, and in pursuance of the rights therein reserved to 
this Convention, we hereby declare that any organization 
which, by formal declaration, by support of ministry or 
otherwise, promulgates, indorses or encourages any teach- 
ing to the effect that perfect and full assurance of salva- 
tion comes with regeneration, or birth of the Spirit, or 
saving faith, and is thenceforth uniform, unvariable, 
never increased or diminished, and that those who do not 
have such assurance, with never a doubt, are unsaved, is 
not such 'regular Baptist church' as is contemplated by 
the Constitution; and a messenger from such organiza- 
tion cannot be seated as a member of this body. The 
fact that a man presenting himself here for membership 
as a messenger is known to believe and teach, by speech 
or pen, the doctrine hereinbefore mentioned, and com- 
monly known as 'Martinism/ shall be sufficient cause for 
his rejection as a member; but the whole matter of the 
church purging itself of false teachers is left by Article 
3, Section 2, of the Constitution, with the church itself, 
where it rightly belongs. 

"Resolved, (3) We further declare that the death of 
Christ on the cross was held by the churches defined to 
be 'regular Baptist churches/ to be necessary, expiatory, 
in the place of the sinner, in satisfaction of divine jus- 
tice, and therefore substitutionary, the benefits of which 
come to us by grace through faith, God imputing Christ's 
righteousness to us, having imputed our sins to Him. 
Any organization which holds and promulgates in any 
way any doctrine in conflict with this substantial state- 
ment of the belief of the churches defined in the Consti- 
tution, is not entitled to representation in this Conven- 
tion. 

"J. M. Robertson, 
"R. H. Pender, 
"J. H. Cason, 

"J. D. ROBNETT, 

"J. B. Riddle." 



By B. F. Fuller. 319 

On the adoption of this resolutiion the messengers 
from Gonzales church withdrew from the Convention. 
On the question of prize fighting, which was at this time 
agitating the country, the Convention put itself on 
record as follows: 

0. S. Lattimore offered the following resolution : 

"Kesolved, That we, the Baptist General Conven- 
tion of Texas, hereby congratulate Governor C. A. Cul- 
berson and M. M. Crane on their manly and successful 
stand against the disgraceful prize fight which was at- 
tempted to be had in Texas, and that we congratulate 
our Legislature on the speed and effectiveness with which 
it passed the law which put Texas on record as opposed 
to brutalism in the form of prize fighting, and that it 
placed such exhibitions where they belong, in the cate- 
gory of crime, punishable at confinement in the peni- 
tentiary from two to five years/' 

Before closing, the Convention appointed J. M. Car- 
roll Statistical Agent. 

Eleventh Annual Session. — In 1896 the Convention 
met in the First Baptist church of Houston. The old 
officers were mostly re-elected. The report of the Board 
of Directors bore a discouraging aspect. There was a 
great falling off in mission work. For all the objects of 
the Convention work, the amount received from all 
sources was $28,813.04, and only sixty-six missionaries 
had been in the field, and only eight hundred and ninety- 
eight baptisms were reported. Comparison of the year's 
work with others, and contemplating the gloomy outlook, 
brought sadness and dark forebodings to the hearts of 
many a Texas Baptist. The salary of the Superintend- 
ent of Missions had been $2,000, and the whole expense 



320 History of Texas Baptists. 

account amounted to $5,049.30, which is about seven- 
teen per cent, of the total receipts. The salary of the 
Superintendent of Missions for the following year was 
still fixed at $2,000. 

Twelfth Session.— The Convention of 1897 was held 
at San Antonio, and was called to order by the Presi- 
dent of the previous Convention. A Committee on Cre- 
dentials was appointed. The report of the committee 
contained a list of names of messengers, to whose rights 
to seats in the body there was no objection; and also a 
list of names of persons, against whose rights to seats 
protests had been filed. That part containing the first 
list was adopted as a basis of permanent organization, 
and the remaining part was recommitted. The officers 
of the previous Convention were mostly re-elected. M. 
D. Early, who had been elected by the last Convention 
Superintendent of Missions, had resigned early in the 
year, and J. B. Gambrell, of Atlanta, Georgia, had been 
appointed by the board to supply the vacant position, 
and he presented the report of the Board of Directors. 
A minority report by two members of the board was also 
presented. The majority report was adopted. The 
board still complained of "great and constant hindrances 
from some, who ought to have been fellow-helpers of the 
truth." The receipts were $20,326.74, and the ex- 
penses, including the salary of the General Superintend- 
ent, which had been $2,000, amounted to $3,697.57. 
Sixty-six missionaries had been employed, and five hun- 
dred and sixty-eight baptisms were reported. By a 
unanimous vote the location of the board was moved 
from Waco to Dallas. The Credentials Committee made 
a final report. A minority report was presented. The 
majority report was finally adopted. The salary of the 



By B. F. Fuller. 321 

General Superintendent was reduced to $1,800 and trav- 
eling expenses. A committee was appointed to report 
next session on the proposition of forming a Texas Bap- 
tist Historical Society. 

Thirteenth Annual Session. — The Texas Baptist 
General Convention assembled at the First Baptist 
church of Waco on the 7th day of October, 1898, and 
was called to order by R. C. Buckner, President of last 
session. On motion the President appointed a commit- 
tee of fifteen on credentials. On the coming in of the 
report of the Credentials Committee, all unchallenged 
messengers were seated, and the Convention proceeded 
to permanent organization. The President ruled as out 
of order the challenges against churches, on the ground 
that the Convention is composed of individual messen- 
gers, and not of churches. On permanent organization 
the old officers were retained, except J. M. Robertson, 
W. R. Maxwell and A. J. Rose were elected Vice Presi- 
dents. The report of the Board of Directors was pre- 
sented by J. B. Gambrell, Corresponding Secretary, and 
was adopted by the Convention. The report showed a 
forward movement in all mission work, and, under all 
the environments, a grand success. For all departments 
of mission work $45,441 . 98 had been collected ; one hun- 
dred and twenty-two missionaries had been maintained, 
and nine hundred and ninety-seven baptisms were re- 
ported. All debts had been paid, and a balance of $3,- 
364.82 remained in the hands of the Treasurer to the 
credit of the board. The whole expense account amount- 
ed to $3,669.11, about eight per cent, of the collections. 
J. B. Gambrell was re-elected Corresponding Secretary 
for the ensuing year, and his salary was fixed at $1,800 



322 History of Texas Baptists. 

and necessary expenses. The final report of the Cre- 
dentials Committee was adopted. 

Fourteenth Annual Session. — The General Conven- 
tion met in 1899 on the 10th day of November in the 
auditorium of the Fair Grounds at Dallas, and was called 
to order by R. C. Buckner, President of last session. 
This was the largest and greatest Convention of Bap- 
tists ever held in Texas, if not the greatest that ever met 
anywhere. It was too large to be accommodated with- 
out great embarrassment and confusion in its proceed- 
ings. It is apparent that such an unwieldly body is so 
handicapped by its own proportions that its efficiency is 
greatly curtailed. The largest vote cast at this Conven- 
tion was twenty-four hundred and eleven; but doubtless 
there were many messengers who did not care to vote, 
and conservative estimates have placed the actual num- 
ber of messengers present at about three thousand. 

A Credentials Committee of nine was appointed by 
the President. When the report of this committee was 
brought in, containing a large list of unchallenged 
names, and some against whose right to be seated pro- 
tests had been filed, the Convention adopted the report, 
excepting the challenged list, as a basis for permanent 
organization. R. C. Buckner was re-elected President; 
J. M. Robertson, W. R. Maxwell and W. B. Denson were 
chosen Vice Presidents; A. C. Baten and J. H.Truett 
were re-elected Secretaries, and J. T. Battle was still 
continued Treasurer. J. B. Gambrell, Corresponding 
Secretary, read the report of the Board of Directors. 
They recognized "that a new and large factor had come 
into the affairs of the Baptists of Texas." The great 
work of the Educational Commission must have room 



By B. F. Fuller. 323 

made for it to raise the $100,000 for the correlated 
schools, which was to be a leading feature for the year. 
Notwithstanding all this, the board was able to make 
an exhibit of the greatest year's work in the history of 
Texas Baptists. There had been collected as follows: 

For Home Missions $ 8,071 19 I 

For Foreign Missions 10,550 44 

For M. K Fund, available 2,237 45 1-2 

For State Missions 32,823 19 1-2 

Total $53,682 28 

The expense account was $3,772 . 65, not quite seven 
per cent, of the collections. There had been sixteen hun- 
dred and forty-one baptisms, and thirty-seven hundred 
and fourteen received into mission churches. There had 
been four general missionaries employed this year, and 
one hundred and fifty-four other missionaries, including 
supplemented pastors. The work of the Education Com- 
mission had been so persistently and ably pushed by B. 
H. and J. M. Carroll, who drew largely from the same 
sources from which the mission funds came, that they 
were able to report before the end of the year that the 
$100,000 had been secured. The mission work and the 
educational work together present an exhibit simply re- 
markable, considering the fact that their methods and 
policy had been distrusted by a large dissatisfied class 
of Baptists all over the State. 

The Credentials Committee also reported the names 
of a few persons coming as messengers from churches of 
which they were not members. The committee had de- 
clined to enroll them, on the ground that it was not 



324 History of Texas Baptists. 

regular for churches to appoint messengers outside their 
own membership. This left out the honored names of 
Dr. K. C. Burleson and Deacon J. J. Felder; but when 
this was brought before the Convention in the latter part 
of the session they were seated by almost a unanimous 
vote. The Convention, however, on this point, adopted 
the following resolution: 

"Whereas, the appointment of messengers by bodies 
of which they are not members seems to be open to seri- 
ous objections^ therefore, 

"Kesolved, That it seems to be the sense of this Con- 
vention that churches, associations and societies should 
elect only messengers who are members of the electing 
bodies, or at least the churches to which the societies 
belong." 

The constitution was amended by adding: 

"Article 9. — Whenever any church, or association, 
os society, shall, by a majority vote of the Convention, 
be declared to be in the attitude of general or continued 
hostility or unfriendliness to the work or purposes of 
the Convention, or when any person is declared to be in 
such attitude, then such church shall, by such majority 
vote, be denied the privilege of sending messengers to 
the Convention; and such person shall, by such vote, be 
denied a seat as a messenger from any church, associa- 
tion or society; and when such church, association or 
society shall be denied a messenger, or said person de- 
nied a seat as a messenger, then the privilege so denied 
shall not thereafter be exercised by such church, asso- 
ciation, society or person, until granted by a majority 
vote of the Convention after permanent organization." 

Dr. Alberto J. Diaz, of Cuba, was given an oppor- 
tunity to present the claims of his island home. He 



By B. F. Fuller. 325 

pleaded earnestly and eloquently for help for Cuba, and 
begged for the sympathies and prayers of Baptists. When 
the report of the Credentials Committee came up for 
final action the Convention declined to entertain some 
of the challenges, but others were sustained. In con- 
nection with this matter a great deal occurred at this, as 
well as previous sessions, that was of such an unpleasant 
nature that rehearsal here would not, perhaps, be profit- 
able to any one. While it is a part of our real history, 
it is probably a part that can bear to be forgotten rather 
than perpetuated on written pages of history. 

At this session the Committee on Statistics, in their 
report, furnish the following very interesting data in 
relation to the strength of the Baptists of Texas in a 
numerical and financial point of view: 

"Total associations, including German Conference, 
99 ; associations co-operating with the General Conven- 
tion, 91; associations not co-operating, 8; Sunday- 
schools, about 1,000; Sunday-school scholars, about 56,- 
000; total white churches, 2,762; total white pastors, 
941; total white members, 187,886. 

FINANCIAL EXHIBIT. 

For State Missions $ 24,094 07 

For Home Missions 7,582 35 1-2 

For Foreign Missions 9,755 93 1-2 

For Aged Ministers 1,921 76 

For Orphans'" Home 28,561 26 

For Christian Education 60,100 99 

For Sunday-school and Colportage 10,707 43 

For Ministerial Education 3,000 00 

For Home Purposes 204,702 51 



Total for Conventional Ye<vr $350,426 28 



326 History of Texas Baptists. 

AGED MINISTERS' RELIEF BOARD. 

Many years ago a special board was created, as pro- 
vided for in the constitution of the General Convention, 
looking after and providing for the relief of aged min- 
isters, who, having become superannuated and incapable 
of active duties, were in need of help. H. M. Burroughs 
was put in charge of this work as Corresponding Sec- 
retary, and has done good service. Through his labor 
of love the life of many worthy veterans of the cross has 
been made happier and brighter. No grander and more 
generous work or sweeter benefaction engages the hearts 
and enlists the labors of the Baptist brotherhood of 
Texas. 

In 1887 the board was caring for twenty-six aged 
and destitute ministers, with six widows, and a number 
of orphan children of deceased preachers; $1,800 had 
been paid out for them during the year. There was also 
an endowment fund of $19,000 in subscriptions. 

In 1889 there were thirty beneficiaries, and the en- 
dowment pledges then amounted to $30,000, and $1,- 
735.61 had been paid out during the year. In 1891 
there was increased success. The total amount collected 
on endowment and cash for distribution during the year 
amounted to $4,609.75. The beneficiaries have aver- 
aged thirty-four, and $2,136 had been expended for their 
support, at a total cost and expense of $1,076. 

In 1893 there were thirty-two beneficiaries, and $3,- 
780 had been collected on endowment and cash for dis- 
tribution. The Corresponding Secretary reports that 
since the organization of the board $10,000 had been die- 



By B. F. Fuller, 327 

bursed, and the endowment pledges aggregated the sum 
of between $35,000 and $45,000. 

At this Convention the plan of caring for the old 
ministers was changed, and the board was abolished : 
and this work was put in the hands of the Board of 
Directors of the General Convention, all the funds being 
turned over to it. Since that time the beneficiaries have 
averaged about forty-five, and the amount received an- 
nually for their relief has averaged about $1,800. This 
department of Christian work appeals to the highest 
impulses of Christian duty. We should see to it that 
these disabled and aged soldiers of the cross, who have 
spent their lives and their means, not in laying up a 
support for old age, but in laying deep the foundations 
of Christ's kingdom in Texas, in tears and in poverty, 
shall not now suffer want. 

In 1899 there were thirty-five beneficiaries. The 
original plan of an endowment fund had been abandoned, 
and the endowment notes were returned to all who de- 
sired it. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

OTHER SMALLER BODIES CO-OPERATING WITH THE GEN- 
ERAL WORK OF THE CONVENTION. 

Baptist Women's Missionary Workers. — In 1880, at 
Austin, the "Texas Baptist Missionary Union" was or- 
ganized, and Mrs. F. B. Davis, of San Antonio, was 
elected President, this organization doing a good work 
until 1886. In the spirit of general consolidation at 
that time a reorganization took place under the name of 
"Baptist Women's Missionary Workers," and Mrs. Davis 
was continued President. She has ably filled that po- 
sition, and most of the time since has borne its burdens. 
The objects of this organization, according to its consti- 
tution, are: 

1. To organize societies. 

2. To win the co-operation of women and children 
in the systematic study of missions, and in collecting 
money for missions. 

3. To spread missionary information. 

4. To assist through our churches and their agen- 
cies State denominational enterprises. 

The proceedings of the regular meetings seem not 
to have been regularly published, but in 1887, notwith- 
standing only seventeen auxiliary societies had reported, 
$1,583.60 had been raised. At the Convention in 1888. 
Miss Minnie Slaughter, of Dallas, Corresponding Secre- 
tary, reported that the year's work had been very pros- 
(328) 



By B. F. Fuller. 329 

perous, footing up a total of $10,177.39 raised by all 
the societies. Nineteen new societies had been organ- 
ized. The thirteenth annual session was held in con- 
nection with the Convention in 1898 at Waco. Mrs. W. 
L. Williams, of Dallas, was President, and Mrs. J. B. 
Gambrell, also of Dallas, was Corresponding Secretary. 
She made a splendid report, showing the entire work of 
the auxiliary societies during the year amounted to $13,- 
541.52 collected for the objects of the organization. 
In 1899 the Mission Workers' meeting was called to 
order by the President, Mrs. W. L. Williams. Mrs. 
Gambrell, Corresponding Secretary, presented her re- 
port, showing a great year's work. A collation of the re- 
ports of the auxiliary societies exhibits the splendid State 
offerings, aggregating $13,211.68, and a special offer- 
ing of $393.60; total, $13,605.88. This work of those 
noble Christian women is fostered by the Board of Direc- 
tors of the General Convention, through which all their 
offerings are sent, and the board appropriates $200 an- 
nually towards the expenses of this work. 

Pastors' Conference. — At the meeting of the Bap- 
tist State Convention at Bryan in 1877 a "Texas Min- 
isterial Conference" was organized, and G. W. Eogers 
was made Chairman. At the next meeting H. L. Graves 
was chosen President, and continued to preside until 
1882, when F. M. Law was made President. In 1883 
J. H .Stribling was elected President, and so continued 
until 1885. At the first meeting of the General Con- 
vention, held in 1886, at Waco, there seems to have been 
such a reorganization of the old Conference as to con- 
form to the sphere of the consolidated conventions. A 
large number of ministers met accordingly and organ- 



History of Texas Baptists* 

ized a State- Wide I Conference, for the pur- 

pose of discussing the various questions that come up in 
: ; ral work. Dr. J. H. Stribling was made President, 
and it was decided to meet each year, one day in advance 
of the Convention. In IS ST the Conference agree 
meet two days in advance of the Convention, and the 
name was changed to the "Baptist Ministers' C .infer- 
ence," but the first name is still generally used. In 
S. J. Anderson was made President In 1895 A 
B. Miller, and in 189? J. M. Robertson. The prog 
for these meetings covered almost even* subject of special 
interest to a minister of the Gospel, and the discussions 
were free and liberal, and very edifying to the preachers 
in their varied fields of labor. 

Baptist Young People's Union. — All over our coun- 
vithin the 1 an extraordinary interest 

in the religious development of the young people has 
been awakened. All denominations of Christian people 
seem to have been moving in this direction. In the first 
stages of this " Young People's Movement" it was known 
under the name of "Christian Endeavor Societies 
out any distinctive denominational form. While great 
good was accomplished, it soon began to be apparent 
that the watchful care of denominational bodies of es- 
-hed character was desirable. It took a definite de- 
nominational form in Methodist bodies, under an organ- 
ization known as the "Epworth League.'*' Among Bap- 
it was felt that our young people should be trained 
along the lines ef our distinctive doctrines and denomi- 
national work. This led to the organization of the "Bap- 
tist Younz Pr:;:-"= Union." At the Gen-. Ten- 



By B. F. FulUr. 331 

tion at Waco in 1S91 the following raaolntifWM ~ere 

ii:t:ei : 

ereas, there is a movement looking to the special 
organization of the Baptist Young People of Texas; and, 

"Whereas. :: is is important as the preservation of 
principle can be that the integrity of our churches be 
preserved, therefore, 

* e Besolved, (1) That we look with pleasure upon the 
growing desire of our young people to be more useful, 
and bid them God-speed in that desire. 

'vResolved, (2) That we most earnestly recommend 
to our pastors and churches that they take special care to 
have the young people, of our churches organized for 
work in such a manner as will be in keeping with the 
principles of our church polity, and that every such or- 
ganization be so formed, as to be an integral part of the 
work of the church with which it is connected. 

••?ie=:".-r5. : Z':\:r. — f r^:: - f_l ::::.: :.:: Ji'itig 

people in their organizations, make their contributions 
through their respective churches: and that thev thus 
support such agencies as the churches in their wisdom 
LjLTr iir-riztri. 

"BesolvedL (4) That we urge our young people to 
subscribe to, and encourage only such religious litera- 
ture as may be unquestionably loyal to 6od ? s completely 
inspired word.** 

In J'zu-z. I S T J 1 . :hrre ~ ir i nif-fting in :he 3r::ii~i7 
Baptist church at Fort Worth of those specially inter- 
ested in this Young People's movement, and the Baptist 
Young Peoples Union of Texas was organized. Bev. 
T 3. Potts, of Bonham. was made President, and A 
E. Baten, Corresponding Secretary. The Union has 
continued to hold its annual meetings, with an increased 
attctL-r-izii-T it ii.h iii-titir. ?::: ; 5rr~ri ~: "fits i= 



232 History of Texas Baptists. 

President, and his successors have been George W. 
Truett, A. E. Baten and A. J. Harris. The Correspond- 
ing Secretaries have been in the following order, after 
A. E. Baten: C. L. Seasholes and Lyman Bryan. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES OF TEXAS BAPTISTS, 

FRO}! THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE UNIVERSITIES 
ON THE 9TH OF DECEMBER, 1885, TO 1900. 

It will be remembered that in a former chapter we 
told of a joint meeting of committees from Baylor and 
Waco Universities at Temple on the 9 th day of Decem- 
ber, 1885, when a consolidation of the two schools was 
fully effected under the name of "Baylor University at 
Waco," thus re--uniting the educational interests that had 
parted in 1861, when Dr. Burleson, President of Baylor 
at Independence, together with all the Faculty, resigned 
and went to Waco. 

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY AT WACO. 

On consolidation, Dr. Burleson was retained as Pres- 
ident, and the school was placed under the control of the 
Baptist General Convention. Dr. Burleson held this 
position until 1897. The first report of the Board of 
Trustees in 1886 shows a prosperous condition of the 
University. They had employed nineteen professors and 
teachers, and had matriculated three hundred and eighty- 
five students during the year. A new site had been fur- 
nished by the city of Waco, embracing a delightful grove 
of twenty-three acres of land in the southern limits of 
the city, including the beautiful Oak Lawn and Mingle 
(333) 



33-i History of Texas Baptists. 

Wood Park. On this plat a splendid and commodious 
building, designed to accommodate five hundred stu- 
dents, was erected. The plan of co-education, which had 
been successfully followed by Dr. Burleson for twenty- 
one years, was approved and adopted by the trustees for 
ten years. A plan was also adopted for raising $500,000 
endowment for the University. The Board of Trustees 
now appointed was: B. H. Carroll, J. L. Dyer, J. E. 
Parker, F. L. Carroll, W. H. Jenkins, J. S. Allen, M. 
H. Standifer, A. W. Dunn, E. J. Sledge, G. W. Slaugh- 
ter, W. B. Denson, John H. Bonner and W. H. Prather. 
A charter was procured August 7, 1886, and a local 
organization of the trustees was consummated by elect- 
ing B. H. Carroll President ; W. H. Jenkins, Vice Pres- 
ident, and J. E Parker, Secretary and Treasurer. S. L. 
Morris was appointed Financial Agent, at a salary of 
$100 per month. The matriculations for the year had 
been four hundred and forty-six. In 1889 the trustees 
report five hundred and seventy-two students, and twen- 
ty-two professors and teachers. In 1891 there had been 
six hundred and seventy-eight students matriculated 
during the year, and there were forty-seven young 
preachers in school. There was a heavy debt against the 
University, and it began to be very oppressive in 1893. 
Something had to be done. Dr. B. H. Carroll, President 
of the Board of Trustees, and pastor of the First Bap- 
tist church of "Waco, came nobly to the rescue. By con- 
sent of his church he took the field, with George W. 
Truett, an able assistant. They undertook to raise the 
money to pay this debt, and soon were entirely success- 
ful. The whole sum collected aggregated $83,000. The 
institution was now in a very prosperous condition. 



By B. F. Fuller. 335 

In 1894 the report of the trustees shows satisfactory 
progress in several particulars: 

1. The school is better organized. 

2. The grade of scholarship is higher. 

3. The finances are managed on better business 
principles. 

4. The school, year by year, takes higher ground 
in the esteem of the literary world. 

A military department was formed in the Univer- 
sity and placed under the control of Lieutenant Beau- 
mont B. Buck, of the United States Army, on detail 
duty. The matriculations this year arose to seven hun- 
dren and seventy-four. In 1895 the University endured 
a sore trial. A most scurrillous and cruel attack on the 
school was made by a certain ungodly paper for com- 
mercial and sensational purposes. It was encouraged 
by persons, of whom some were misled, and others, per- 
haps, felt that Baylor was growing too prosperous and 
powerful. The onslaught is unequaled in the history 
of education and Christianity for its brutality. It was 
an attack of infidelity against Christianity. This inci- 
dent bore heavily upon the prosperity of the school, and 
ultimately culminated in several bloody tragedies. 

In 1896, Dr. B. H. Carroll, President of the Board 
of Trustees, called the attention of the Convention to 
the fact that the full ten years had elapsed since con- 
solidation, completing the time agreed upon when the 
question should be finally settled as to whether the fe- 
male department shall be retained in Baylor University. 
Upon recommendation of the trustees the Convention 
resolved "That the female department at Baylor Uni- 
versity be retained, and that this be a final settlement 



336 History of Texas Baptists. 

of this hitherto unsettled question." In 1896 there were 
five hundred and fifty-two students enrolled, and in 1897 
only five hundred and forty. Dr. Burleson had been 
President of Baylor at Waco continuously since the con- 
solidation of the two universities in 1885, now eleven 
years. Immediately preceding this he had been Presi- 
dent of Waco University twenty-five years, and imme- 
diately prior to that had been President of Baylor at 
Independence for ten years, making a continuous service 
in the capacity of President from 1851 to 1897 — forty- 
six years. He certainly had earned a rest. Dr. Burle- 
son was now seventy-four years old, and was entitled to 
some relief, and he was, by the Board of Trustees, now 
retired from active service, on full pay, as President 
emeritus. The chair of President was not soon filled, 
but J. C. Lattimore was made Chairman of the Faculty, 
and was put in control of the school. 

In 1898 there were five hundred and forty-one en- 
rolled for the regular school year. Including the sum- 
mer literary and summer Bible schools the grand total 
was seven hundred and fifty. About one hundred and 
fifty preachers attended the summer Bible school. In 
1899 the chair of President of the University, which 
had been vacant since the retirement of Dr. Burleson, 
was filled by the trustees by the election of Oscar H. 
Cooper, an honored graduate of Yale, and former Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction of this State. The elec- 
tion of Dr. Cooper has given great satisfaction. A fin- 
ished scholar, and experienced educator as he is, it is 
expected that under his management Baylor will con- 
tinue to grow in usefulness and greatness. The grand 



By B. F. Fuller. 337 

total of all matriculations in all departments amounted 
to seven hundred. 

Lieutenant Buck was relieved and ordered to join 
his company for service in Cuba, and is now in active 
service in the Philippine Islands, and Major W. W. Bat- 
tle is in command of the cadets at Baylor, and has or- ; 
ganized three companies in the school. Valuable im- * 
provements in the buildings are under way, and the 
future of Baylor was never brighter. 

BAYLOR FEMALE COLLEGE. 

As has already been stated, Baylor Female College 
was removed from Independence in 1886 on account of 
the inaccessibility of its location, and in order to get a 
location more central in the State. This was authorized 
by the State Convention at the Lampasas meeting in 
1885. Belton was selected because of its known health- 
fulness and general fitness. The city gave as a bonus 
beautiful grounds, containing eleven acres, and $31,000 
as a building fund. Dr. J. H. Luther was retained as 
President, and the College opened at Belton on the 13fh 
day of September, 1886. During this session two hun- 
dred and two students were enrolled. F. M. Law was 
President of the Board of Trustees, and still continued 
in that capacity. The school has averaged two hundred 
and fifty-three students, year by year. 

In 1888 the trustees reported that a large addition 
had been made to the main College building at a cost of 
nearly $20,000, and that fourteen professors and teach- 
ers were regularly employed on salaries. That the school 
was in a very prosperous condition, and supplied with 



338 History of Texas Baptists. 

the comforts and conveniences of electric lights, water- 
works and steam heating plants. In 1891 the resigna- 
tion of Dr. Luther, which had been tendered two years 
before, and held over, was accepted by the trustees, Dr. 
Luther had been President of Baylor Female College 
continuously since 1878. His thirteen years' adminis- 
tration had been one of continued prosperity to the Col- 
lege, and unbroken harmony between himself and the 
trustees. Professor P. H. Eager, of the University of 
Mississippi, was elected to succeed Dr. Luther. He en- 
tered upon his duties in July, and three hundred matric- 
ulates were reported that year. 

In 1893 the trustees place the value of the College 
property and assets at $166,656.57. The main build- 
ing is a magnificent three-story stone structure, with 
steam heating, electric light and laundry plants, and 
sewerage system; also, an artesian well of most pure and 
wholesome water, within twenty feet of the building, 
furnishing by natural pressure an abundance of water 
on every floor, from basement to dome. And, in addition 
to this, a well-provided dairy, all the exclusive property 
of the College. 

In 1894 President Eager retired from the institu- 
tion, and Professor E. H. Wells, a member of the Facul- 
ty, was chosen President of the College. The trustees 
reported the loss by death of the Secretary of the board, 
Dr. J. B. Link, whose love for the College and her noble 
work was evinced in his bequest of $10,000 to the insti- 
tution. 

In 1895 the 1st day of February was duly observed 
as the semi-centennial day of its existence. The trus- 
tees call attention to the almost perfect health of the 



By B. F. Fuller. 339 

school since using the pure water from the artesian 
well, now three years. At the close of the session of 
1896 Dr. E. H. Wells retired from the Presidency. Rev. 
W. A. Wilson, A. M., formerly of Lexington, Missouri, 
was elected President. In 1898 there were thirty-seven 
graduates. 

The session of 1899 opened with a flattering outlook. 
Before the meeting of the Convention in November, two 
hundred and seventy young ladies had been enrolled, 
and health was perfect. For many years a heavy debt 
has been borne by the trustees, even to the extent of 
encumbering their own private estates. In 1898 this 
school entered into affiliation with the correlated schools 
of the State, and now, through the splendid work of the 
the Educational .Commission, this debt is soon to be en- 
tirely liquidated. 

F. M. Law has been the efficient and laborious Presi- 
dent of the Board of Trustees continuously for twenty- 
eight years, and much of the splendid success and pres- 
ent high standing of Baylor Female College is due to 
his fine administrative ability and unceasing care. About 
ninety per cent, of the young ladies in school are pro- 
fessed Christians. In connection with the College there 
is a well-regulated system of educational and industrial 
cottages, under the management of a matron, for the 
benefit of young ladies who are, for want of means, un- 
able to pay their board in the school. Some of the bright- 
est graduates of this College have occupied these cot- 
tages. The alumnae of Baylor Female College have 
taken a high stand in scholarship and in society. The 
high character of these Baylor girls has been referred to 



340 History of Texas Baptists. 

with pride all over the State. They have generally be- 
come active in every noble Christian work. 

Baylor Female College, as well as Baylor University, 
belongs to the Baptist denomination of Texas, and both 
are alike under the control of the General Convention, 
by whom the trustees are appointed. This Baylor at 
Belton is for the education of girls exclusively, while 
the University at Waco is co-educational. 

SIMMONS' COLLEGE. 

This school is located at Abilene, Texas. The char- 
ier was executed in 1890, and by its terms the school is 
under the control and direction of Sweetwater Baptist 
Association, and the trustees are to be appointed by that 
body. It is specified also that the school shall be co- 
educational, and that no debt shall ever be contracted by 
the trustees. The College property is valued at more 
than $30,000, without any liens or debts, which is in 
marked contrast with most institutions of learning in 
our country. It took about two years after the charter 
was filed to get suitable buildings ready for use. 

The first session opened in September, 1892, and 
about eighty-five students were enrolled the first year. 
Dr. O. C. Pope is the President, and under his efficient 
management, and with no debt to oppress it, the future 
of this school is bright. 

HOWARD PAYNE COLLEGE. 

Located at Brownwood, Texas. The charter of this 
school was filed in 1890, and provides that the trus 



By B. F. Fuller. 341 

shall be appointed by Pecan Baptist Association, and 
allows the adjoining associations which co-operate with 
it, each to appoint one trustee. The charter provides 
that males and females shall be admitted on equal terms. 
By the 1st of September, 1890, ample accommodations 
for students had been provided, and the school opened 
with a nattering prospect. Professor J. H. Grove was 
chosen President, and ten teachers were employed. Two 
hundred and forty-seven students were matriculated the 
first year. The second year one hundred and seventy- 
three were enrolled. The value of the College property 
was assessed at $40,000, but a heavy debt had been con- 
tracted in building. By 1897 this debt had become over 
$20,000, and was becoming an oppressive burden. The 
Education Commission came to the relief of this school, 
and in 1897 the College entered into the system of cor- 
related schools, with Baylor University, and the Edu- 
cation Commission assumed the burden of the indebted- 
ness. All the debt was paid and the mortgages can- 
celled. This put the school in a happy condition for 
future prosperity. 

NORTH TEXAS BAPTIST COLLEGE. 

This institution is located at Jacksboro, Texas. Tt 
became a corporate body in 1891. The charter was filed 
in the office of the Secretary of State in June of that 
year. An organization had been formed, composed of 
the churches of the Jacksboro, Macedonia, Polo Pinto, 
Stephens County and Lake Creek Baptist Associations, 
under the name of "North Texas Baptist Convention." 
The charter specifies that the College belongs to this 



342 History of Texas Baptists. 

Convention, and it shall appoint the trustees. A Faculty 
of six professors was chosen, and J. H. Bryant was made 
Chairman of the Faculty, and placed in charge of the 
school. The College property was valued at $28,000. 
By fhe terms of the charter this school was also to be 
co-educational. 

NORTHWEST TEXAS BAPTIST COLLEGE. 

Located at Decatur, Wise county, Texas. Five Bap- 
tist Associations united in founding this school, and it 
was incorporated in 1891. These Associations were the 
following: Wise County, Red Fork, Montague, Denton 
County and Greer County. The charter was filed with 
the Secretary of State on the 21st day of December, 
1891, and provides that the trustees shall be appointed 
by a concurrence of the five Associations. It was not 
until January, 1893, that the trustees were able to put 
the school in operation. The buildings were not even 
then ready to be occupied, and a rented house was used 
for a time. The buildings being completed, the second 
session was opened in the new house in September, 1893, 
with one hunder and forty-nine students enrolled. A. 
J. Emerson, A. M., D. D., a graduate of Wake Forest 
College, had been made President of the College, and 
eight professors and teachers were employed. By the 
terms of the charter the school was made co-educational, 
and with an able Faculty, special educational advan- 
tages were afforded to the young men and women of 
Northwest Texas. The location was well chosen. De- 
catur, being one thousand and sixty-two feet above sea 
level, is practically free from, malaria, and the atmos- 



By B. F. Fuller. 343 

phere is especially invigorating and healthful. Besides 
the usual departments, this school has also a military 
department, designed to give a good practical knowledge 
of military tactics, and promote physical development. 
There is also a department of theology for the benefit 
of ministerial students. 

In 1896 the College began to feel the pressure of a 
heavy indebtedness, which had been incurred in making 
improvements. The property was valued at $40,000, and 
this property must be saved and the school relieved. At 
the session of the General Convention at San Antonio 
in 1897 there was a conference of representatives of the 
leading Baptist schools in the State to consider the best 
means of relieving these schools, and promoting their 
common welfare. This led to the formation of a system 
of federation, by which most of these schools were cor- 
related into one general body, under the control of the 
General Convention. Decatur College was included in 
this system, and the Education Commission, which was 
constituted by the Convention to carry out the objects 
of this confederation, then assumed the entire indebted- 
ness, and paid the most of it at once. 

Benjamin F. Giles, A. M., of Howard College, South- 
ern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Chicago Uni- 
versity, became President, and is at this time supported 
by a strong Faculty. The Board of Trustees is as fol- 
lows: Rev. J. L. Ward, President; C. J. Crabb, Secre- 
tary; C. W. Martin, Treasurer; J. M. Bennett, Z. B. 
Bobo, Rev. S. G. Christal, Eev. J. F. Elder, G. H. 
Fletcher, C. B. Gunn, Rev. A. W. McGaha, D. D. ; B. C. 
Mitchell. J. E. Xeel and John Spencer. The school is 
row en a permanent basis, and in easy circumstances. 



344 History of Texas Baptists. 

Having the sympathy and support of the whole brother- 
hood of the State, with a constantly increasing patron- 
age, success is assured. 

' EAST TEXAS BAPTIST INSTITUTE. 

Located at Rusk, Texas. The preliminary steps to 
organize a Baptist school at Rusk were taken in January. 
1894, by Cherokee Association. Liberal contributions 
were made, and a plat of ground was secured. In Oc- 
tober, 1894, a permanent organization was effected, and 
a Board of Trustees was appointed. A charter was pre- 
pared and filed July 18, 1895, specifying that the In- 
stitute was the property of Cherokee Association, and 
giving to that body the right to appoint the trustees. A 
three-story brick building had been erected and fur- 
nished. The first session opened on the 2d day of Sep- 
tember, 1895, with seven teachers and one hundred and 
forty-two students. Rev. C. F. Maxwell was elected 
President. The value of the property was assessed at 
$23,000, with only a small debt. This school was one 
of the colleges that organized the original federation of 
correlated schools in 1897. The principal part of the 
debt has been paid by the Education Commission and 
the citizens of Rusk. There is a commendable interest 
in the success of this school manifested by the business 
men of Rusk, as well as the surrounding Baptist Asso- 
ciations, and the future prosperity of East Texas Bap- 
tist Institute seems to be insured. 

BURLESON COLLEGE. 

Located at Greenville, Texas. A movement was 
inaugurated in 1894 at Greenville to establish at that 



By B. F. Fuller. 345 

place an institution of learning, in some sort commen- 
surate with the prosperity of that nourishing town. By 
February, 1895, the enterprise had taken a definite 
shape, and a corporation was formed, and a charter 
filed on the 9th day of February of that year. It desig- 
nated the institution as "Burleson College/' named in 
honor of Texas' greatest educator, Dr. K. C. Burleson. 
By the terms of the charter the school was to be co-edu- 
cational. A deed was executed on the 25th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1895, conveying to this corporation the plat of 
ground on which the College buildings were to be erected. 
By September, 1895, the buildings and equipments were 
ready for the opening of the first session. Dr. S. J. An- 
derson, to whose active labors the success of the 
enterprise was largely due, was chosen President, and 
one hundred and sixty students were enrolled the first 
year. Dr. Anderson had been for many years pastor of 
the Greenville church, and his has been one of the most 
successful pastorates of the State, Greenville church be- 
coming strong and active. In 1897 Dr. Anderson re- 
signed this pastorate and devoted his entire time to the 
College. 

There was a growing desire manifested that the 
school should be placed under the control of Hunt Coun- 
ty Association. To meet this expressed wish the Asso- 
ciation at its annual session in September, 1898, took 
steps to effect its own incorporation, that it might be 
fully prepared to take charge of the property. A charter 
to this effect was filed in the office of the Secretary of 
State on the 16th day of November, 1898. On the same 
day an amended charter of the College was also filed, 
placing it under the control and management of the 



346 History of Texas Baptists. 

Association, which should have the right to appoint the 
local trustees; but surrounding Associations, co-oper- 
ating in the enterprise, had a right to appoint one trus- 
tee each, which must be ratified by Hunt County Asso- 
ciation. The College property was assessed at $30,000. 

On the 22d day of November, 1899, the Board of 
Trustees adopted a resolution, calling on the Moderator 
of the Association to call an extra session of that body 
to consider the propriety of joining the system of feder- 
ated schools under the control of the General Conven- 
tion. The Association met at Greenville at the call of 
the Moderator on the 14th day of December to consider 
this question, and a resolution was adopted to correlate 
Burleson College with the system of federated schools. 
The next day the trustees of the College ratified and 
adopted this action of the Association, and the union 
was completed, though not exactly on the same terms 
as the other schools of the system. 

The original deed conveying the property to Burle- 
son College contained a clause to the effect that the Col- 
lege status of the school shall be maintained for ten 
years. This school, therefore, had to be received into 
the system with this limitation. The debt against the 
College was now $2,983.45. This was all paid, except 
$400, by Dr. B. H. Carroll, Corresponding Secretary 
of the Education Commission. 

Dr. Anderson, after having served three years as 
President of the College, had resigned on account of 
failing health, and in January, 1900, Kev. W. T. Tardy 
was elected President. Having now the full support of 
the Education Commission, backed by the powerful in- 
fluence of the General Convention, this college is destined 



By B. F. Fuller. 347 

to become an efficient power in the education of the sons 
and daughters of our country. 

FEDERATION" OF BAPTIST COLLEGES. 

At a conference in 1897 at San Antonio, during the 
session of the General Convention, at which there were 
representatives from eight of the largest schools in the 
State, for the consideration of the best interest of the 
Baptist schools in Texas, the following resolution was 
agreed upon, to be presented to the General Convention : 

"Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that 
the Baptist General Convention of Texas be requested to 
appoint a committee of five brethren, who are not official- 
ly connected with any existing Baptist school, and that 
the representatives of each school appoint one additional 
member, which committee of thirteen shall be requested 
to consider the federation of our schools and their rela- 
tion to each other ; that their plan of federation and rela- 
tion be referred to the boards of our various schools as 
soon as possible for acceptance or rejection. Then, pro- 
vided, as many as five of our schools, including the two 
Bayolrs, agree to unite in said confederation, the said 
committee of thirteen shall be the Education Commis- 
sion for Texas Baptists for the current conventional year, 
with power to proceed to the work of raising funds to 
promote the financial interests of the schools so agreeing. 
Provided, further, that until such arrangements are made 
each school shall be permitted to attend to its own affairs, 
as at the present." 

When this resolution was presented to the Conven- 
tion $7,000 was pledged for the relief of Decatur Col- 
lege. The resolution being adopted, the committee was 



348 History of Texas Baptists. 

appointed, and proceeded to arrange a plan for the cor- 
relation of the Baptist schools of Texas. This plan was 
submitted to the respective boards of the several institu- 
tions. The plan finally formulated and agreed upon was 
for affiliating with Baylor University at Waco, Baylor 
Female College at Belton, Howard Payne College at 
Brownwood, and East Texas Baptist Institute at Eusk. 
The terms of affiliation were as follows : 

1. Each of the affiliating schools shall maintain in 
all of its courses of study a standard of scholarship equiv- 
alent to that maintained by the University for the same 
course. 

2. Baylor Female College shall be equipped to do 
full college work, and confer all the usual Bachelor and 
Master degrees. Its point of affiliation with the Uni- 
versity shall be in the post graduate degrees. 

3. The other schools of the system shall be equipped 
to extend their work, if need be, over the course covered 
by the sophomore class in the University. 

4. The diplomas or certificates of Baylor College 
and the other schools shall be accepted by the University 
without examination to the extent of affiliated work pro- 
vided for. 

5. The unit of grading the several courses shall be 
the University curriculum, where the work is classed 
as equivalent, and not identical. If the University and 
the affiliating school shall fail to agree thereon, then 
this Commission, if existing, or if not existing, some 
other authority to be appointed by the Convention, shall 
decide. 

6. That no school in this system 6hall be prevented 
from teaching any branch or branches required for a 



By B. F. Fuller. 349 

permanent State teacher's certificate, or such branches as 
book-keeping, shorthand and typewriting, to meet the 
local demands of said school. 

The Education Commission was duly organized, and 
J. M. Carroll was chosen Financial Manager, with J. M. 
Robertson assistant, and was authorized to raise at once 
the sum of $212,000 for liquidating all the existing debts 
of the affiliated schools. In 1898 the Financial Manager 
reported to the General Convention that he had secured 
pledges amounting to $52,000, including the $7,000 
pledged for Decatur College, $4,150 of which had been 
collected and paid out on the College debt. 

This work was considered so important that Dr. B. 
H. Carroll was induced to give up his pastorate of the 
First Baptist church of Waco, that he had filled so ac- 
ceptably for twenty-eight consecutive years, and accept 
the charge of this enterprise as Corresponding Secretary. 
Dr. Carroll's pastorate at Waco had doubtless been the 
longest and most successful in the State. The church 
under his matchless ministry had grown to be the strong- 
est and most progressive church in the State. Certainly 
no ordinary impulse could have broken this endearing 
relation. The condition of Dr. CarrolFs accepting this 
position was that business men from various sections of 
the State would indicate their interest in the work, and 
their confidence in its outcome under his management 
by providing him a salary, just what his church had been 
paying him as a pastor, out of a fund made up by them- 
selves, apart from and in addition to any pledge made 
or collection taken for the work itself. These conditions 
were promptly met, and he entered upon the work on the 
1st day of January, 1899, with J. M. Carroll, assistant. 



350 History of Texas Baptists. 

J. M. Kobertson having resigned his position early in the 
year. The success of this work has been most gratifying 
to all friends of education. 

The report to the Convention in November, 1899. 
shows subscriptions paid and unpaid, $105,000. Of 
this sum only $40,000 remain unpaid, and this is con- 
sidered an exceptionally good subscription. The money 
has been appropriated to the relief of the correlated 
schools. This has given fresh stimulus to these institu- 
tions, and greatly increased their patronage. The ex- 
pense account is eight per cent, of the cash collections. 
Since the report was made, Burleson College at Green- 
ville has joined the system, and a large part of its in- 
debtedness has been paid by the Commission. Baylor 
Female College has also been relieved to a great extent 
by the paymnt of a large portion of her long-standing, 
oppressive debt. Complete ultimate success lies before 
the correlated schools and the Education Commission. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE TEXAS BAPTIST SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND COLPOETAGE 

CONVENTION, FROil THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE 

TWO SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTIONS AT 

ENNIS, JULY 23, 1885, TO THE 

PRESENT TIME, 1900. 

It will be remembered that prior to the consolidation 
of the general missionary bodies there was a Sunday- 
school Convention within the bounds of the State Con- 
vention, and also one within the territory of the General 
Association. In the spirit of general consolidation com- 
mittees from each of these bodies met at Ennis, July 23. 
1885, and effected a consolidation under the name, "The 
Texas Baptist Sunday-school and Colportage Conven- 
tion. Deacon W. R. Howell was the first President; J. 
M. Carroll, Corresponding Secretary, and M. V. Smith', 
Treasurer. W. R. Maxwell was made Superintendent 
of the work, and the board was located at Lampasas. A 
constitution was adopted, which, with some slight 
changes, was the same as it now stands, being as follows : 

"Article 1.— This body shall be called the Baptist 
Sunday-school and Colportage Convention of Texas. 

"Article 2. — The objects of this Convention shall be 
;o establish and encourage Baptist Sunday-schools, under 
the direction of Baptist churches, and to devise and foster 
a system of colportage for the dissemination of a sound 
religious literature, and. in general, to adopt such means 
as will promote these general interests. 
(351.) 



352 History of Texas Baptists. 

"Article 3. — This Convention shall be composed of 
messengers, male or female, annually elected by regular 
missionary Baptist churches, all of whom must be mem- 
bers of the churches they propose to represent. Each 
church shall be entitled to one messenger, and one mes- 
senger additional for each fifty pupils, officers and teach- 
ers enrolled in the Sunday-school, or fractional part 
thereof. Each church is expected to send to the Conven- 
tion statistics stating the number of officers, teachers and 
pupils enrolled, the name and postoffice of Superintend- 
ent, and average attendance of the Sunday-school. 

"Article 4. — The funds of this Convention shall be 
derived from voluntary contributions, made only for the 
purposes of the Convention, as set forth in Article 2 of 
this Constitution, and shall be sacredly appropriated in 
accordance therewith. 

"Article 5. — The officers of this Convention shall be : 
President, three Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, 
a Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom 
shall be elected annually by ballot, or viva voce, by unani- 
mous consent. The position of Corresponding Secretary 
and Treasurer may. at the discretion of the Convention, 
be filled by one and the same person. A majority of all 
the votes cast shall be necessary to the election of Presi- 
dent and Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding 
Secretary shall not be elected until after the annual re- 
port of the Corresponding Secretary and Board of Direc- 
tors shall have been read and finally disposed of. The 
officers herein provided for shall be ex-officio members 
of the Board of Directors. 

"Article 6.— It shall be the duty of the President to 
preside over the deliberations of the Convention, and of 
the Board of Directors; and in the absence of the Presi- 
dent, or at his request, the Vice President shall perform 
the duties of his office. 

"Article 7. — It shall be the duty of the Correspond- 
ing Secretary to perform such duties as the Convention 
or Board of Directors may require at his hands, and he 



By B. F. Fuller. 353 

alone of the officers of the Convention shall receive salary 
for his services, the amount of the same to be fixed by the 
Convention or the Board of Directors. 

"Article 8.— It shall be the duty of the Recording 
Secretary to keep a correct record of the proceedings of 
the Convention, and to preserve them in permanent form, 
supervising the printing and distribution of the same, as 
the Convention may direct. For this work of printing \ 
and distributing minutes the Convention may appro- 
priate from general funds such sum of compensation as 
it may deem proper. 

" Article 9. — It shall be the duty of the Treasurer, 
whether he be also Corresponding Secretary or simply 
Treasurer, to receive, hold and disburse all moneys be- 
longing to the Convention, in accordance with the pro- 
visions of this Constitution. He shall present an annual 
report to the Convention, showing all items of receipts 
and disbursements, and his report shall be examined by 
the Auditor, hereinafter provided for. 

'"Article 10. — A Board of Directors shall be elected 
annually by the Convention, consisting of eleven mem- 
bers, besides the ex-officio members, hereinbefore provid- 
ed for. Of these, eight shall be elected by the Conven- 
tion and three be nominated by the President, subject to 
the approval of the Convention. The Board of Directors 
shall exercise all the powers of the Convention between 
the annual sessions of the Convention, doing whatever, is 
necessary to carry cut the objects of the Convention, as 
hereinbefore defined, and making a complete and full re- 
port annually to the Convention of all its doings. Said 
Board of Directors shall meet at least four times a year, 
and at its first quarterly meeting shall appoint three 
Auditors, whose duty it shall be to examine and report 
upon all reports of the Treasurer, and especially the 
annual report of the Treasurer, to the Convention. TJpon 
the request of three members of the Board of Directors 
the President shall call a special meeting of said board, 
at the usual place of meeting, giving at least five days' 



354 History of Texas Baptists. 

written notice to each member of the board. Five mem- 
bers of the Board of Directors, including officers assem- 
bled at the place of meeting, shall constitute a quorum 
for the transaction of business at a regular or called ses- 
sion, as herein provided for. The Board of Directors 
may appoint an Executive Committee of three, independ- 
ent of the ex-officio members, whose acts between the reg- 
ular sessions of the board shall be provisionary and bind- 
ing until the next regular meeting of the board, which 
shall then pass upon them. 

"Article 11. — The Convention shall meet annually at 
such time and place as the body may elect. 

"Article 12. — This Constitution may be amended at 
any annual session of the Convention by a two-thirds vote 
of the enrolled members present and voting, provided 
that said vote is not taken later than the second day of 
the session of the Convention." 

This organization has done a grand work in the State. 
Acting entirely independent of the General Convention. 
it nevertheless is in close accord with that body, and com- 
munity of interest and purpose exists between them. Its 
work has been second only to the great work of that or- 
ganization. Succeeding W. R. Maxwell, the Superin- 
tendents of this work have been in the following order: 
J. D. Ray, B. F. Clayton, J. C. Wingo, L. E. Peters, 
W. C. Luther and E. C. Everett. In 1896, at the Con- 
vention at San Antonio, W. C. Luthur was re-elected, 
but resigned during the session, and E. C. Everett was 
chosen to succeed him. He has very successfully man- 
aged the work of the Convention as Superintendent and 
Corresponding Secretary to the present time. The Sun- 
day-school and colportage work has continued to enlarge 
as the successive Superintendents have expanded the 
sphere of their influence, and added year by year more 



By B. F. Fuller. 355 

means and more laborers to the enterprise. At the meet- 
ing at Bryan in 1895, $10,018.72 had been expended 
in the year's work. 

In 1896 the Convention met at San Antonio in June, 
and Rev. C. L. Seasholes, of Dallas, was elected Presi- 
dent. The Corresponding Secretary, W. C. Luther, in 
his report, showed a decided advancement in the work. 
Sixty-two missionaries, colporters and Bible women had 
been employed during the year. From all sources $12,- 
357.26 had been received, but the expenses amounted tc 
$2,348.55, about sixteen per cent, of the collections. To 
the poor and needy six thousand, nine hundred and thirty 
Bibles and Testaments had been given during the year, 
besides distributing nearly a million pages of tracts. The 
missionaries had organized one hundred and twenty-three 
Bible schools. Six Bible women had 'been employed, 
whose duty is to visit the houses and distribute religious 
literature, and hold women's meetings and children's" 
meetings. At these meetings, with reading of the Scrip- 
tures and distributing of papers and tracts, and with re- 
ligious conversation, great good has been accomplished. 
During the year four hundred and ninety-six children's 
meetings and one hundred and twenty-one mothers' 
meetings had been held. One hundred and twenty-three 
Sunday-schools had been organized. Three hundred and 
eighty-one persons had been baptized, and two thousand, 
eight hundred and sixty-eight Bibles and Testaments 
had been given away. 

In 1897 the Convention met at Sherman on the 24th 
day of June, and was called to order by President Sea- 
sholes. Two hundred and sixty-three messengers were 
enrolled. C. L. Seashoals was re-elected President for 



History of Texas Baptists. 

th~ eiii" ~-r 7t : 7 .-.- :f : ::: :: :_ T I : 

read br Corresponding SeerefcLr- I I : :: 
. :s :: ^ 7 - : - i=l~:~:-l ::V.e.ll C:. -i 

eC.i: — r- :Liz. =^----— n _ -~ "•-'- : 

the collections. There had been sixty-three mi.^MMfiM 

rZlT. "t IZ.L 7.'.' ".."."ll.": LZ1 ~.'—T7~-r~.Z~". "" ~~" = 

The number of Bibles or Testaments sopplieid to fam- 
ilies or indmdaals. either br sale or gift, was ten thon- 

-."~ — 7 "in : r7 --~ :."" -._:.". t-. -- -.-r v ~~- 

:r- : . --::: ::7f: 7: > = Tz.i?-= Ll: — i ":.:::^: 
:':.:.:: ; z. _ f zzr. .. r-i - - ^--^ • : -_ " Tire-f '---. 
"--". i ". rlrrr-f^-rz :.. :7rr= ~rr±:r= irL: 7::_n :7r 

" " ^- -- "". Ml :-r - " . — - 

meeting of the Baptist Sunday-school and Colportaae 
Contention coirrened at Brenham. June 23. 1898, and 

was called to order by -J. A. French, of Austin, Yke 

7 - - . -.:'- : - " ■; : : j 7 ~^7 ~ - ~'-^ ?:=izi:::-=^ 

7 - ;-. 7 -'-- 7-- i - - 7 - " 7:^.'.-.". "i : 

: nio, Corresponding Seeretarr. 

The report of the board was a splendid exhibit of the 

- ■ . - •" 7 

: :-T-:7i:-r : . ."-i- :.::.- :: -1 -*7 ":: 7~i:. '<- 
cent of the collections. Sixty-nine missionaries had 
" •— ^ r— -'.---■' 7". ~ -->~ i 7u - - -— " 7 . : 7:n- 

- - : ;" : . :i :•■ n -:•::_ :i — ;:r. i - ~ :•:. ~~ " :.:::::•: 

: : 
had been baptized br others in their work as 
aries of the Conienraon. making a total of 
Imndred and fire. "Hie Bibles or Testaments distributed 



By B. F. Fuller. 357 

ninety-three. There had been three hundred and twenty- 
one mothers' meetings and twelve hundred and fifty 
childrens' meetings during the year. Ten Bible women 
had been employed, who had done a precious work 
among the women and children. 

This department of Sunday-school work was inaug- 
urated in Dallas by Miss Hollie Harper in 1894, with 
out a precedent to guide her, but it has rapidly developed 
into great usefulness. It has been most effective in 
bringing the Gospel to the homes and to the hearts of 
mothers and children that could not be reached by the 
regular colporter, and in a sweet way which none but 
women know, and, above all, creating a desire for "the 
way, the truth and the life," found only in the Bible. 

The Convention put itself fully in line with the work 
of the General Convention by adopting the following : 

"Whereas, all our denominational work is one, wheth- 
er it be missionary or educational, or whether it be repre- 
sented by the Texas Baptist Sunday-school Convention, 
by the Texas Baptist General Convention, or either one 
of our denominational schools, our denominational work 
is all one — one in spirit, and one in their aim to carry 
out the will of Christ through the churches and the agen- 
cies which they authorize and employ; and, 

"Whereas, the present State Board and the present 
Superintendent of State Missions under that board, have 
shown the utmost regard for our work, and have by words 
and deeds stood faithfully by our organized work, and 
have treated our board and our Corresponding Secretary 
with the utmost cordiality, therefore, 

"Resolved, first, That we extend most hearty and 
fraternal greetings to the Baptist General Convention 
when in session at Waco, October next. That we assure 
the Baptist General Convention of Texas' that we heartily 



358 History of Texas Baptists. 

indorse its official acts, including the work of the San 
Antonio meeting ; and that this is done, not only in view 
of the work done there, but of the happenings in our 
State since then; and we pledge the board of that Con- 
vention our hearty sympathy and co-operation." 

Fifteenth Session. — The Baptist Sunday-school and 
Colportage Convention met at Houston on the 24th day 
of August, 1899, in its fifteenth session, and was called 
to order by President J. A. French. On permanent or- 
ganization, Brother French was re-elected President ; W. 
S. Howell, Secretary, and A. M. Darling, Treasurer. 
Superintendent E. C. "Everett read the report of the 
Board of Directors, showing a very satisfactory year's 
work. The amount raised during the year was $20,- 
231.88, and the expense account was $2,289.44. Sev- 
enty-four missionaries had been employed, and the Super- 
intendent reported sixteen hundred and forty-five bap- 
tisms. The number of persons supplied with Bibles or 
Testaments by gift or sale was seventy-seven hundred 
and thirty-seven. Ten Bible women had been at work 
during the year, and three hundred and sixteen mothers' 
meetings had been held, and the number of women en- 
rolled as attending those meetings was fourteen hundred 
and twenty-eight. There had been nine hundred and 
nineteen childrens' meetings, and fourteen thousand, one 
hundred and fort}^-six children had attended them. The 
gracious and noble work of these Bible women was grate- 
fully received and abundantly blessed. All of the moth- 
ers' meetings, and most of the children's meetings, were 
conducted by them. They had also relieved nineteen hun- 
dred and six persons in poverty or distress. Before clos- 
ing, the Convention adopted the following resolutions : 



By B. F. Fuller. 359 

"Whereas, all our Baptist work in Texas is essentially 
one, whether it be missionary, educational, caring for our 
aged and infirm ministers, providing for the fatherless 
in the Buckner Orphans' Home, or furthering the work 
of this Sunday-school and Colportage Convention ; and, 

'•'Whereas, our sister Convention, the Baptist General 
Convention of Texas, is to meet in annual session in Dal- 
las, Xovernber 10, 1899 ; and, 

'•'Whereas, it is the announced desire to raise $20,000 
for the State mission work alone of said Convention by 
Xovernber 1 ; and, 

"Whereas, we desire that it be everywhere understood 
that this Sunday-school and Colportage Convention 
heartily appreciates the ever-enlarging work of the Gen- 
eral Convention, and unequivocally approves its officers' 
actions and policies, therefore, 

••'Eesolved, That the messengers • of this Convention 
hereby agree to join earnestly in the effort to raise the 
amount above named, and that they will do their utmost 
to further all the interests of the General Convention." 

The Board of Directors for the following year em- 
brace the following names: B. S. Fitzgerald, F. D. Mc- 
Intire, G. Z. Gaston, J. C. Hill, of Houston; A. J. Har- 
ris, of San Antonio; J. H. Thorn, of Eusk; W. W. Har- 
ris, of Galveston; A. W. McGaha, of Fort Worth, and 
G. W. Truett, of Dallas. E. C. Everett was again elected 
Corresponding Secretary by acclamation. The Conven- 
tion adjourned without selecting any place of meeting 
in 1900. 



CHAPTEE XXXIII. 

BAPTIST NEWSPAPERS IN TEXAS SINCE CONSOLIDATION 
IN 1886. 

The press has been, during the century now nearing 
its close, a powerful agent in the development of every 
enterprise wherein its support has been secured. Bap- 
tist newspapers in Texas have had a potent influence in 
the affairs of the denomination in this State. It is pain- 
ful to confess, however, that they have not always been 
an unmixed blessing, and their great influence has not 
always been promotive of brotherly love. In this State 
Baptist papers have been mainly private enterprises, 
without any organic connection with the denomination. 
The field has been an inviting one, and has always been 
open to any one who might desire to publish a paper, and 
some unfortunate ventures have been made in this direc- 
tion. We propose, however, here to notice only those 
papers that have proved to be institutions of a permanent 
character, and are State-wide in their influence and pat- 
ronage. 

THE TEXAS BAPTIST-HERALD. 

This is the oldest Baptist paper in the State. It will 

be recalled that in July, 1886, The Texas Baptist, owned 

and published by S. A. Hayden. and the Baptist Herald. 

owned and published by J. B. Link, were consolidated. 

* (360.) 



By B. F. Fuller. 361 

This was effected by Dr. S. A. Harden: s buying out J. B. 
Link. The consolidated paper was then published by 
Dr. Hayden under the name of The Texas Baptist and 
Herald. The question as to the most suitable location 
for the paper was referred to the General Convention, 
and Dallas was designated, and this has continued to be 
the home of the paper to the present time, Dr. Hayden 
continuing to be editor and proprietor. In 1888, how- 
ever, A. J. Holt purchased an interest in the paper, but 
in less than a year reconveyed his interest to Dr. Hay- 
den. The paper was conducted with marked ability, and 
in a few years, by personal enterprise and untiring ac- 
tivity, the circulation had become, perhaps, equal to that 
of both papers at the time of consolidation. The Baptist 
and Herald has ever stood firm for sound doctrine in 
the denomination, persistently opposing heresies that 
have from time to time appeared. The paper has re- 
cently appeared with the name somewhat changed, being 
hyphenated into The Texas Baptist-Herald, and is a 
sixteen-page paper. The present management is as fol- 
lows: S. A. Hayden, editor: S. J. Anderson, associate; 
D. A. Holman, associate; A. R. Hayden, business man- 
ager; W. T. Compere, field editor. 

THE BAPTIST STAXDARD. 

In December, 1888, the Baptist News was started at 
Honey Grove, in Fannin county, by Lewis Holland and 
J. H. Boyet. About one year afterwards Holland bought 
the interest of Boyet, and the paper was moved to Dallas, 
and E. T. Hanks bought a one-half interest. The paper 
was enlarged, and the name was changed to "The West- 



362 History of Texas Baptists. 

ern Baptist." In March, 1892, M. V. Smith and J. B. 
Cranfill purchased the paper, and changed the name to 
"The Texas Baptist Standard," and in July removed it 
to Waco. In February, 1893, M. V. Smith died, which 
threw the entire management on Cranfill. In January. 
1894, the office, with all its contents, was destroyed by 
fire. It was not long, however, until a new office, with 
presses, printing machinery and paper stock was fitted 
up, and the regular issues of the paper continued. 

In January, 1898, Colonel C. C. Slaughter, of Dal- 
las, bought a one-half interest, and the paper was moved 
to Dallas, and the name was changed to "The Baptist 
Standard." A joint stock company was organized and 
incorporated, with J. B. Cranfill President and General 
Manager ; C. C. Slaughter, Treasurer, and E. D. Slaugh- 
ter, Secretary. The Standard has an extensive circula- 
tion within the State, and is rapidly extending to other 
States. The Standard is sound and conservative in doc- 
trine and true to the Baptist faith. 

There are a number of church papers and other 
monthlies devoted to special lines of work or special lo- 
calities, giving valuable aid, however, to the common 
cause. 

The Missionary Worker is published at Dallas by the 
Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Directors of the 
General Convention in the interest of the work of that 
board. It is not concerned to any extent with general 
newspaper topics, but is specially devoted to the promo- 
tion of the mission work in Texas. 

The Helper is the official organ of the Texas Baptist 
Sunday-school and Colportage Convenaion. It is pub- 
lished monthly at San Antonio by E. C. Everett, the 



By B, F. Fuller. 363 

Corresponding Secretary of the Convention.* The paper 
is devoted specially to Sunday-school and colportage 
work, and is very helpful, in that line. Among other 
good things, it contains a review of the regular Sunday- 
school lessons, prepared by Mrs. M. J. Nelson, of San 
Antonio, who has long been an efficient laborer in Sun- 
day-school work. 

The San Antonio Baptist has been published monthly 
for two or three years by A. J. Harris, pastor of the First 
Baptist church of that place, and he now has associated 
with him Eev. John Holland, pastor of the Prospect Hill 
church. W. W. Sloan is business manager. Under this 
management the paper is extending its circulation and 
influence. 

The Baptist Echo is published in East Texas at Jack- 
sonville by Bev. J. M. Newton, and is a zealous supporter 
of the Jacksonville Baptist School and the East Texas 
Convention. 

We have also the West Texas Baptist, the Baptist 
Visitor and the Vedette, and perhaps some others. 



CHAPTEE XXXIV. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF A FEW OF THE STRONGEST BAP- 
TIST CHURCHES IX TEX.. 

rirst Baptist church in Texas was organized in 
. which is now sixty-three years. There are at 
ent in this State about twenty-seven hundred and sixty- 
two white, and fourteen hundred and thirty-one colored, 
Baptist churches, aggregating forty-one hundred and 
ninety-three. This unprecedented rate of increase has 
not only never been equaled by Baptists elsewhere, but 
has never been approached by any other denomination. 
The individual history of each one of these churches 
would doubtless be interesting and instructive ; but what 
a volun: A make! Short - - of the early 

churches were given in the first part of this work. It 
would be manifestly impossible in a work like this to 
extend this to cover all. We can only attempt a his- 
torical sketch of a few of the strongest churches at this 
time, as illustrative of the history of the remainder and 
of denominational progre- 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GALVESTOX. 

The organization of this church in 1S40 was noted 

in the history of that period. Commencing its < :: ~:ence 

with nine members, under the care of the consecrated 

Huckins. Galveston church at once alligned itself with 

(3ft 



By B. F. Fuller. 365 

the work of Texas Baptists, and was admitted to the 
fellowship of Union Association. Elder James Huckins 
was the first missionary sent to Texas, and was under 
commission of the Home Mission Society, being still sup- 
ported in part by that board. After about two years he 
withdrew his connection with the Society, and devoted 
his whole time to this church. The church prospered, 
and in 1845 determined to build a house. The pastor 
was released from church services for one year to travel 
in the older States and solicit aid. In August, 1846. 
Brother Huckins returned with funds sufficient to justify 
the church in beginning the work of building. The 
church and the citizens added to this fund, and a Build- 
ing Committee was at once appointed and put in charge 
of the work. The committee was composed of J. S. Syd- 
nor, T. H. Borden, W. X. Sparks, Gilbert Winne, G-eorge 
Fellows, Berry Nichols and Rev. James Huckins, the 
pastor. The building was completed, and the dedication 
took place in September, 1847. The dedication sermon 
was preached by Tryon, who was pastor at Houston. 
This was only a short time before his death by yellow 
fever. Brother Huckins, having completed this work, 
tendered his resignation, to take effect the first of 1848. 
J. F. Hillyer was pastor for a few months. About this 
time Dr. Burleson and Noah Hill held a meeting with 
the church, which resulted in a gracious revival. 

Dr. R. H. Taliaferro, of Austin, was called, and as- 
sumed his pastoral duties in March, 1849, and served 
until July, 1850. J. B. Stibler was installed as pastor 
in January, 1851, and served two years, when he re- 
signed to accept the chair of Physical Science in Baylor 
University. The first pastor, Rev. James Huckins, was 



366 History of Texas Baptists. 

then recalled to the pastorate, and began his duties in 
July, 1853, and served until 1860, making fifteen years 
altogether in his first and second pastorates. A call had 
been tendered him by the Wentworth-street Baptist 
church of Charleston, South Carolina. Although the 
tenderest ties existed between him and the church, he felt 
that it was the direction of the Holy Spirit that he should 
accept. In his written resignation he says : 

"His will manifestly is that .you and I should sep- 
arate; that you should seek another pastor, and that I 
should enter another field. I submit to that will, though 
it slay me ; though it crush all my dearest hopes.'' 

December 12, 1859, the church accepted the resig- 
nation in the following tender words, among others : 

"The universal expression in view of your departure 
has been that we may indeed fill our pulpit; but who is 
to take your place at the bedside of the sick and dying? 
Who comfort the afflicted widow ? Who attend the wants 
of the destitute orphan? From many a desolate hearth 
a cry of remonstrance and regret reaches our ears, and 
from a hundred dwellings of the poor the prayers of 
those you have comforted and relieved mingle with ours 
to the Great Father of all, that wherever you may go, 
or wherever labor, the work of the Lord may prosper in 
your hands/ 7 

Elder J. H. Stribling commenced his pastorate in 
June, 1860. He had served about a year when the gun- 
boat South Carolina appeared off the harbor to blockade 
the port of Galveston. This threw the city into such 
general alarm and confusion that the citizens in great 
numbers left hastily for the interior. So many of the 
members of the church with their families left that serv- 



By B. F. Fuller. 367 

ices were abandoned, and the pastor sought other fields. 
The church remained closed while the war lasted. After 
the close of the war, the members having mostly re- 
turned, a few met for the first time in March, 1866, for 
worship. They went diligently to work to revive an in- 
terest in Christian labors. Among the new-comers who 
rapidly sought homes in Galveston after the war closed 
were many Baptists from the interior of the State, and 
also from the Northern States, who united with the old 
members to revive active church work. 

In October, 1866, Dr. Wm. Howard was invited to 
preach to the church, and was regularly installed as pas- 
tor in January, 1868. Before Dr. Howard's regular 
work had begun the church showed great activity, and 
had determined to build a pastor's home. By the time 
he was ready to enter upon his duties as regular pastor 
a- handsome and comfortable house had been built ad- 
joining the church, costing about $7,000, and it was 
made ready for his reception. Dr. Howard was very 
successful in his labors at Galveston, and continued 
eleven years. During his first four years he baptized 
twenty-five, and received sixty-nine by letter, and raised 
for various objects about $2-6,000. The membership of 
the church then was one hundred and nineteen. Dr. 
Howard's pastorate ended in November, 1879. 

In 1897 the church reported seven baptisms, and 
thirty-three received by letter, and a total membership 
of four hundred and twenty-three. The contributions 
for incidental expenses were $1,413, and for missions. 
Orphans' Home and aged ministers, $502. 6j0. In 1898 
there were twenty-one baptisms, and forty received by 
letter. The church building is assessed at $30,000, and 



Hisic | - TexQi - - sts. 

the parsonage at $10,000. The pastors salary for a num- 
ber of years has been $2,4 ^mce the resignation of 
Dr. Howard the church has had four pastors — W. 0. 
Baily. A. Y. Spaulding, A. W. Lama? and W. Iff. Harris 

The present pastor. Dr. Harris, began his pas 
work July 1. 1S96, and the church under his care has 
been harmonious and prosperous. The present mem- 
bership is five hundred, and the Sunday-school numbers 
about three hundred. There is also a flourishing Baptist 
Young People's Union in connection with the church. 
The active deacons are: W. 8. Griffin. G. D. Douglas. W. 
H. Stewart, L. C. Leith and C. H. True. The present effi- 
cient clerk. G. D. I _ -.has served the church in that 
capacity for many years. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF II 

r the constitution of this chuch in 1S41, by Rev. 
Jan. ins, he continued to supply the church some- 

what irregularly for about two years, after which there 
seems to have been no regular pastor until 1845, when 
Rev. W. Iff. Trvon. a missionary sent out by the South- 
ern Home Mission Board, was invited by the church to 
preach for them, and by consent of the board became 
pastor. Trvon was a man of great power, and he en- 
tered with zeal upon his work. Largely through his 
efforts a good church building was erected, and in 

Heated. The church was active and | 

perous in even* department of work, and Trvon, being 

beloved by all, seemed destined to do a great work in 

-'on. In the midst of great usefulness the beloved 

D was prostrated by yellow fever, and died on the 



By B. F. Fuller. 369 

16th day of November, 1847. Dr. R. C. Burleson, who 
had recently arrived in Texas under commission of the 
Southern Board, was called, and by direction of the board 
entered upon his work at Houston in January, 1848. 

During Tryon's pastorate trouble arose from several 
different sources. The question of alien baptism had to 
be met. Then many of the brethren were greatly dis- 
turbed on the introductiion of an organ into the church, 
to aid the music. The choir was also objected to, and 
renting the pews was looked upon as fostering an aristoc- 
racy within the church. The trouble at one time bore a 
very serious aspect. The organ disappeared from the 
church, and was found in Buffalo Bayou. The firmness 
and tact of the pastor, however, secured a settlement of 
all these questions, and restored the harmony of the 
church. 

Dr. Burleson resigned in August, 1851, to accept the 
Presidency of Baylor University. Up to this time the 
church had been aided by the board of the Southern Bap- 
tist Convention, but now felt strong enough to declare 
themselves self-supporting. Dr. Burleson's successor was 
Rev. Thomas Chilton, of Greensboro, Alabama. Mr. 
Chilton, before he became a minister, had been an emi- 
nent lawyer and politician in Kentucky. Like his cousin, 
Judge Baylor, he had also been a member of Congress 
from that State. He was an able minister, and continued 
with the church about three years. During the first 
year the membership increased rapidly. The old ques- 
tion, however, of choir and pew-renting, was again re- 
vived, resulting in great dissensions in the church, and 
Mr. Chilton resigned in 1854. 

The church remained about two years without a 



370 History of Texas Baptists. 

pastor, and seemed too much divided to do anything. 
There was division, even, on the temperance question. 
A long period of unfortunate declension and inactivity 
followed. Several succeeding pastors served a short time 
and resigned. During the war the church scarcely 
showed any sign of life. In 1865 it is stated that a 
Swedenborgian Methodist preacher was occupying the 
pulpit. Church services were almost entirely abandoned. 
The condition of the church seemed to be as distressing 
as the church at Ephesus, to which the angel said : "Thou 
hast left thy first love," and "I will remove thy candle- 
stick out of its place, except thou repent." 

The ladies of the church seem to have made the first 
move towards a revival of interest in the services. They 
undertook to repair the church building, and Dr. J. B. 
Link, who had begun the publication of the Texas Bap- 
tist Herald in Houston, began regular preaching, and in 
1868 the house was renovated and painted, and there 
was a manifest revival of interest among the brethren. 
In December, 1868, Eev. J. T. Zealy, who had recently 
come to the State from South Carolina, was called, but 
he did not begin his pastoral duties until September. 
1869. The church under his ministration again became 
active and faithful. Dr. Zealy continued with the church 
for six years, and the membership was greatly increased, 
by both baptism and letter. A comfortable and neat 
pastor's home was built, and two mission stations were 
established and chapels erected. The zeal and efficiency 
of Christian women never shown brighter than when dis- 
played by the ladies of Houston church during those days. 

After Dr. Zealy 5 s resignation in November, 1875. 
there was no regular pastor until Eev. J. M. C. Breaker 



By B. F. Fuller. 371 

came, at the call of the church in April, 1877. He con- 
tinued nine years, and was a very successful pastor. A 
new church was organized at the chapel in the Fifth 
ward, and the German Baptists organized a church and 
purchased the chapel in the Fourth ward. In the spring 
cf 1883 the church began the erection of a new house, 
and it was completed and dedicated in October, 1886. 
The house had cost about $20,000, and was one of the 
best in the State. Rev. T. B. Pitman succeeded Dr. 
Breaker, and in May, 1891, Rev. W. 0. Bailey followed 
him. 

On the first Sunday in April, 1891, the church cele- 
brated its semi-centennial. Dr. Burleson, who was the 
second pastor, preached a sermon appropriate to the oc- 
casion. Of the constituent members in the organization 
of the church fifty years before, Mrs. Piety L. Hadley 
was the only one present. There was no happier heart 
there than hers. She saw a consummation, in some de- 
gree, of her toils, her hopes and her prayers. For fifty 
years she and her noble husband, Judge T. B. Hadley. 
had labored, prayed and hoped for Houston church. In 
the darkest hours of trouble and declension in the church 
she never faltered. She kept alive the prayer-meetings. 
She led in the organization of the first Sunday-school. 
During the terrible scourge of yellow fever and cholera, 
that almost decimated Houston, she appeared a minister- 
ing angel to the sick and dying. Christianity never had 
a truer exemplar, and Houston church never had a more 
devoted friend. A half century of such a consecrated 
Christian life has enshrined the name of Mrs. Piety L. 
Hadley in the annals of Baptist history. 

Passing over a few years we find that in 1896 the 



372 History of Texas Baptists. 

membership was four hundred and twenty-three, and 
under the pastoral care of Rev. L. D. Lambkin there had 
been during that year twenty-eight additions by bap- 
tisms and fourteen by letter. The church was paying the 
pastor a salary of $1,800, and had paid during the year 
$603 incidental expenses. In 1897 there were one hun- 
dred and three baptisms, and forty received by letter, and 
the total membership was five hundred and forty-foui. 
In 1898 there were fourteen baptisms and forty-eight re- 
ceived by letter, and the total membership was five hun- 
dred and eighty-one. In 1899 the church had eight bap- 
tisms and twenty-six received by letter, and there was a 
total membership of five hundred and seventy-four. The 
value of the church building, with the parsonage, is put 
down at $37,000. W. S. Xapier is the present church 
clerk. Houston First church has long had one of the 
most flourishing Sunday-schools in the State, and it now 
numbers about two hundred and fifty. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WACO. 

We have noted in a former chapter that in 1851 that 
Texas veteran, X. T. Byars, organized this church with 
four members. In 1854 the membership had increased to 
twenty-eight, and S. G. O'Bryan became pastor. During 
his six years' ministration the church was very prosper- 
ous. A good house was built, and the church occupied 
the new building in 1857. When O'Bryan closed his 
services in 1860 the membership had increased to two 
hundred and twenty. This church has changed pastors 
less often, perhaps, than any other. In 1877 the build- 
ing was destroyed by fire. There was no time lost in re- 



By B. F. Fuller. 373 

pining. A meeting was held three days after the loss. 
and under a stirring appeal from the pastor. B. H. Car- 
roll, the church determined to build again without delay. 
The plans adopted were for a $40,000 house, and it was 
to be built without incurring any debt. The work pro- 
ceeded systematically, but under these conditions it must 
necessarily be slow. The house was fully completed in 
1553, in time for the meeting of the Southern Baptist 
Convention in May of that year. After "Bryan's resig- 
nation in 1560 the pulpit was occupied by W. EL Bay- 
less, R. C. Burleson, W. H. Anderson and M. B. Hardin 
prior to 15 TO. Dr. B. H. Carroll was elected pastor in 
15 TO. and continued to occupy this pulpit until 1£ 
After rwenty-eight years of consecutive pastoral labors 
Dr. Carroll gave up Waco church on the first day of 
January. 1899, to take charge of the Education Commis- 
sion. The church was without a pastor until September. 
when Eev. A. W. McGaha was regularly installed. 

The First Baptist church of Waco has been a model 
church. • Harmony and co-operation have most gene: 
prevailed between the members and with the pastor. No 
serious discord has ever marred the peace of the church. 
Sound doctrine has been maintained and Baptist faith 
upheld. Xo church in Texas has equaled it in contri- 
butions for all missionary and educational enterprises. 
The pastors salary has been 82.500, and for a great 
many years a missionary within the city has been sup- 
ported at a salary of $1,200. These results are not due 
to great wealth in Waco church, but to liberal system- 
atic giving. The church has a most excellent system 
of contributions and collections. Xo collection is ever 
allowed in the church, except on extraordinary occasions. 



374 History of Texas Baptists. 

There is a collector for each of the various objects fos- 
tered by the church. These collectors take subscriptions 
for the special object assigned to them, and collect in 
monthly installments, making written reports to the 
monthly conference. There is a collector for State mis- 
sions, for foreign missions, Orphans' Home, pastor's sal- 
ary, aged ministers, and each other object the church 
may determine to promote. 

V. G. Cunningham was church missionary for many 
years, and in 1888 organized the Second Baptist church 
at a mission chapel, and became pastor. Elder John G. 
Kimball succeeded him, and other mission chapels have 
been built in other parts of the city. 

There have been many gracious revivals- in Waco 
church. In 1896 Deacon W. E. Penn conducted a meet- 
ing of great interest, which resulted in one of the great- 
est revivals ever witnessed in the State. M. V. Smith, 
who took part in this meeting, wrote at its close : 

"Brother Penn has conducted every service from two 
to three times a day for fifty-three days. There have 
been two hundred and thirteen conversions. One hun- 
dred and twenty-six have joined the church. There have 
been a number of conversions among the students in the 
University, who have gone home without baptism, and 
quite a number among persons attending from the coun- 
try." 

At the close of the meeting the total number of con- 
versions was estimated at three hundred and seventy. 
There was another great revival in the fall of 1893, con- 
ducted by pastor B. H. Carroll, in which he did all the 
preaching. In this meeting there were more than one 
hundred additions to the church by baptism, and one 



By B. F. Fuller. 375 

hundred and fifty by letter, making a total increase of 
membership of more than two hundred and fifty. 

In 1860, nine years after organization, the member- 
ship was one hundred and eighty-one. At the end of 
the next decade there were only two hundred and one 
members. In 1880 there were three hundred. and ninety- 
eight reported. In 1890 the number was five hundred 
and twenty-four; and in 1896 the total membership was 
nine hundred and seventy-two. The report to the Asso- 
ciation in 1899, however, shows only nine hundred and 
twenty-seven, but it is probable that at this time the mem- 
bership is about nine hundred and sixty. 

In 1892, forty-one years after its organization, the 
church had received by baptism eight hundred and thirty, 
and by letter twelve hundred and ninety-eight, a total of 
twenty-one "hundred and twenty-eight. W. H. Jenkins 
is the present efficient clerk of the church, to whom we 
are indebted for many of the facts related here. Brother 
Jenkins was elected clerk in October, 1878, making a 
service of twenty-two years. 

The deacons of the church at present are S. B. Hum- 
phries, F. L. Carroll, John T. Battle, W. H. Standifer 
and J. C. Lattimore, all of whom have served in this 
capacity a great many years. Besides these, the follow- 
ing have been set apart to this work in later years : P. B. 
Jones, C. E. Nash, J. T. Herrington and S. B. Howell. 
The Board of Deacons, of course, are charged with the 
entire financial interest of the church, but there are fre- 
quently special committees appointed to aid them. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF TYLER. 

From the organization of this church in April, 1848, 
it was an active, progressive body. The membership in 



376 History of I ?xa& Ba itists. 

1652 had grown from the six constituent member - 
sixty-eight For about two years the church continued 
to worship in the County Courthouse. Afterwards serv- 
lield for a time in the Odd Fellows* Hall : then 
the United States Court room was used. At this time 
Tyler was a place of great promise in the anticipated 
development of the country. The United Sta: 
had been located there, and the Government had built a 
good Courthouse. Many prominent men were locating 
in Tyler, and it was a center of political influence, 
church was anxious to make it also a center of education 
and Baptist influence. 

In connection with Cherokee . tion the church 

inaugurated a movement to establish at Tyler a Baptist 
school. For this purpose a house was buik in B55, inch 

• ) be used both for the church and for the school, on 
a lot owned by the Cherokee Association. The church 
and the Association worked in concord, and there were 
high hopes for the school. These prospects were all 
blighted, however, and the church was greatly embar- 
1 by a fire in 1856. consuming the building, which 
was without any insurance. Preparations were soon com* 
menced. however, to build another house. The new 
house was built on the old lot, which still belonged to 
Cherokee Association. It was completed and occupied 
in 1859, but it was not until 1881 that the property was 
transferred to the church. Elder J. S. Bledsoe was pas- 
tor when this house was built, and continued in this ca- 
pacity until the beginning of the war. During the war 
D. B. Man-ell, .1. R Clark and X. P. Moore occupied 
the pulpit in the order as they are named. Elder John 
H. Roland succeeded Moore in 1868, and continued 



By B. F. Fuller. 377 

1872. Elder J. H. Stribling became pastor in 1873, and 
with the beginning of his services the church began to 
have services every Sabbath, and regular prayer-meet- 
ing during the week. In 1881 Eev. Eeddin Andrews suc- 
ceeded Brother Stribling. 

In 1882 the church suffered another great misfortune. 
Again the church building was destroyed by fire. Serv- 
ices were now held for some time in the Opera House. 
It was not until 1884 that the building of a new house 
was agreed upon. There were various and conflicting 
views as to the kind of a house to be builded. The propo- 
sition prevailed ithat the house should be the very best. 
It was completed in 1889, and was dedicated on the 29th 
day of September. The building cost $25,000, and is 
one of the most beautiful and convenient houses of wor- 
ship in the State. 

In 1888 the Ladies^ Aid Society purchased a com- 
fortable house for a pastors home at a cost of $3,000. 
Mr. Andrews resigned in 18S5 to accept the Presidency 
of Baylor University. Dr. A. J. Fawcett became pastor 
in 1888, and every department of church work was now 
prosperous. In 1891 the membership of the church had 
increased to four hundred and seventy-five, and the Sun- 
day-school numbered two hundred and fifty. The prayer- 
meetings of the church continued to grow in interest, and 
the attendance was unusually good. A mission, known as 
the Xorth Side Mission, had been fostered for several 
years, and the organization of a new church was the re- 
sult. 

During the pastorate of Dr. Stribling. in 1873, Dea- 
con W. E. Penn held his first great revival meeting with 
Tyler church. At this meeting, lasting for manv weeks, 



r History of Texas Baptisis. 

there were fifty-four add:: m m baptism and twenty- 
better. Ber. 3 - . the third pastor of 
the church, began his pastorate in 181 ::d supported 
the educational enter: r. great energy and devo- 
tion; and up ire in 1S56, which consumed the 
building, the prospect for the Tyler school was nattering. 
Passing over a few years we find in .er church 
still active in all missionary work. During the associa- 
tional year the church had made the following eontribu- 
j: For home miss s, $] ^:ate mias 
: foreign missions. £183 ; Orphans 3 H me, $131 
ational missions, $100; ;.__■_- sr $918.85; be- 
- salary and church incidental expenses. This 
exhibit is very creditable for a total membership of four 
hundred and forty, as now reported. Although the 
membership does not appear as la:_ 
still this does not necessarily signify any real decle: 
on the part of the church. A great many had been 

ned to aid in the formation of new church— 
J. H. Gambrell, the present efficient pastor, has served 
the church a number of a harmony and with 

great usefulness. C. F. Mansfield is the present church 
clerk. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHUKCH OF DALLAS. 

A: the beginning of the year 1S6S there was no Bap- 
hurch at Dallas. Prior to that date there had been 
two or three feeble organizations in the town, but they 
had been dissolved or removed to the country. W. L. 
Williams, a zealous Baptist, located in Dallas in the fall 
of 1867. He made inquiry for Baptists, but could hear 



By B. F. Fuller. 379 

of none in the town. In the early part of 1868, how- 
ever, several Baptists settled in the place, and TV. L. 
Williams, aided by Enoch G. Mays and John Hannah, 
induced Eev. W. W. Harris, J. F. Pinson and W. J. 
Brown to hold a meeting of several weeks in the town. 
At the conclusion of the meeting a church was organized 
on the 30th day of July, 1868. There were eleven con- 
stituent members, and the organization was designated 
'The First Baptist Church of Dallas." W. W. Harris 
became the first pastor, but served only a few months. 
The church sent messengers and was received into the 
fellowship of Elm Fork Association on the 22d day of 
August of that year. 

Mrs. A. E. Prather^s was the first baptism in con- 
nection with the church. She was received on the rela- 
tion of her Christian experience on the 16th day of July, 
1871, and was baptized the next day in the Trinity river 
by S. S. Cross. For several years after the resignation of 
TV. TV. Harris, in the early part of 1869, the church got 
along the best they could without a regular pastor. In 
1ST 2 the membership had increased to twenty-one, and 
they determined to build a house. Eev. Abram Weaver 
was employed at a regular salary to canvass the State to 
raise funds for this purpose. Weaver was successful, and 
the fund raised by him was increased by liberal contri- 
butions in the town and church. The building was soon 
commenced, and was completed in time to hold the reg- 
ular services in June, 1873. In 1876, during the pas- 
torate of G. W. Rogers, Deacon W. E. Penn conducted a 
great revival meeting with this church, which resulted 
in one hundred and fifty additions and the liquidation 
of all indebtedness. 



380 History of Texas Baptists. 

Discipline was not neglected in this church. In Sep- 
tember, 1877, a sister was excluded, who, having secured 
a divorce from her husband on the ground of lunacy, had 
married again. Pastor Rogers resigned in October, 1877, 
j and J. H. Curry, his successor, was installed in February, 
1878. His salary was fixed at $1,200, and use of the 
parsonage. A city missionary was also employed under 
the title of assistant pastor. In August, 1878, the mem- 
bership was reported in the letter to the Association to 
be three hundred and seven. 

In 1879 a meeting was called by some dissatisfied 
brethren to meet at Piano for the purpose of forming a 
new missionary body, and there were conflicting opinions 
in the Dallas church as to whether they should affiliate 
with this new body or still co-operate with the General 
Association. In view of this threatened trouble the 
church determined to send messengers to neither, but to 
do their own missionary work. The membership at this 
time was three hundred and twenty-three. 

In 1878 serious trouble and division arose. A re- 
spectable minority protested against the action of the 
: church in receiving a certain person to fellowship. A 
I memorial was finally presented, signed by fifty-nine,. de- 
claring non-fellowship with the majority, which resulted 
in their exclusion in January, 1880. These excluded 
members kept up a separate organization until March 
30, 1884, when the breach was healed, they withdrawing 
their memorial, and the church rescinding the act of ex- 
clusion and restoring them to fellowship. Pas-tor Curry 
resigned in April, 1882, and in December R. T. Hanks, 
from Georgia, became pastor. His salary was fixed at 
$1,800 per annum. The church was now harmonious 



By B. F. Fuller. 381 

and prosperous, and in May, 1883, a handsome two-story 
building was erected for a pastor's home. 

In June, 1881, a standing Committee on Discipline 
was appointed by the church, and the duties of this com- 
mittee were defined at length. In January, 1887, letters 
were granted to twenty-four members to organize a church 
in East Dallas. The pastor's salary was now increased 
to $2,000, and every prospect was bright. The church 
had for some time sustained a mission in the southern 
"part of the city, and in December, 1888, granted letters 
to thirty-four members to organize a church at that 
point. This organization was designated the Second 
Baptist church of Dallas. Pastor Hanks tendered his 
resignation in June, 1889, to take effect in October. 
During this pastorate, of almost six years, the member- 
ship of the church had greatly increased by baptism and 
by letter. 

At the called session of the General Association in 
1880 the minority, who had been expelled, was recog- 
nized as the First Baptist church of Dallas. The ma- 
jority, as a church, affiliated thereafter with the State 
Convention. Eev. A. M. Sims succeeded Hanks as pas- 
tor, and began his duties in January, 1890. The church 
had determined to build a new house, and on the 3d day 
of April, 1889, while Hanks was still pastor, adopted 
plans and specifications, and appointed a Building Com- 
mittee, composed of W. L. Williams. S. L. Mays, C. C. 
Slaughter and J. S. Taylor. The committee lost no time 
in getting the work under way. The private business of 
Brethren Slaughter and Taylor was so pressing that they 
were excused to a great extent from active service in the 
constant labors of the committee. After the new pastor 



382 History of Texas Baptists. 

arrived he was also very active in pressing forward the 
work. The committee made their report to the church 
on the Tth day of June. 1691, which concludes as follows : 

"The contractors have delivered to us the keys of the 
building as a testimony that the work is completed, and 
their bills paid or provided for, and by direction of com- 
mittee and directors of this church I turn these keys over 
to the pastor of this church, to be held subject to the 
order of the church. Please, sir. accept the keys for the 
church as the closing up of our work. 

"Signed: W. L. Williams, Chairman.". . 

Referring to the cost of the building, the committee 
in their report say : "The aggregate amount of cash that 
has come into the treasury to the account of the church 
building fund from the first until June 1, 1891. was 

,210, which amount was paid out on work. Amount 
due on the work June 1. 1891, $9,409.35. Bills con- 
tracted to be paid in one year, including interest on the 
same to maturity. $4,284.52. Bills to be paid in two 
years, including interest on the same when due. $3,237. 
Bills provided for. including memorial windows, carpets,, 
drapery, plumbing, and donations not otherwise shown 
above, $8,800. Total value of the property. $90,940." 

Pastor Sims resigned in April. 1892, and C. L. Sea- 
sholes became pastor in August. On revision of the 
church rolls, about this time, it was found that the real 
membership was six hundred and twenty-five. It must 
be remembered that as many as two or three colonies had 
been dismissed to organize other churches, that had now 

>me flourishing organizations. Bev. George W. Truett 
i> now pastor, and the church is harmonious and pros- 
perous. 



CHAPTER XXXV. ' 

HERESIES. 

Texas Baptists have, for the most part, been emi- 
nently conservative in doctrine, and have promptly re- 
pudiated all departures from the faith. They have 
specially emphasized the great fundamental doctrine that 
the Bible alone is the standard of religious truth. They 
have utterly repudiated the contention of Rome and 
latter-day fanatics, that the Bible does not contain all 
of the inspired word of God, but that tradition and recent 
revelations are of equal authority with the Scriptures, as 
we have them. They have also rejected the pretentions 
of so-called higher criticism, which measures the Bible 
and interprets it by scientific investigations, and rejects 
all that seems not to be thus verified, leaving no place 
for faith. Texas Baptists accept the Bible as the cannon 
now stands, and nothing but the Bible, as the inspired 
word of God, without any reference to scientific rules or 
code of ratiocination. They maintain that the Bible not 
only contains the inspired word, but that it is the in- 
spired word, plenary and complete. Texas Baptists have 
been prompt to disavow heresies that have appeared in 
any form involving departures from the tried and true 
standards of the faith. Campbellism seems to have been 
the first departure that afflicted our churches. 

T. W. Cox, who was a man of marked ability, and 
very prominent in our earliest churches, had assisted in 
(383) 



384 History of Texas Baptists. 

the organization of Travis and La G-rangj churches in 
1839; also in the organization of Union Association in 
1840, and was its first Moderator. He developed strong 
Campbellite tendencies, and 'boldly preached the dogmas 
of the reformation throughout the Association. Many 
were led off by him, and among them the sweet-spirited 
J. L. Davis. 

At the second session of Union Association meeting 
with La Grange church in 1841, Try on, Huckins and 
Morrell were present. To this trio of staunch Baptist 
preachers and foundation builders of our faith in Texas 
we are greatly indebted for the sound doctrines prevailing 
in our State. During the session, Cox, being pastor, as 
well as a member of that church, was proceeding to re- 
ceive members after the manner of the Campbellites, 
when these preachers entered a decided protest. This 
led to a long and heated discussion, and the church finally 
postponed the matter to the next regular meeting. In a 
consultation of the ministers present it was determined 
that charges of heresy should be preferred against Cox 
in his church. Morrel was present at the next meeting, 
and Cox was put on trial for heresy. He made a strong 
and vigorous defense, but Morrell, seconded by several 
members of the church, stood firm on Baptist doctrine. 
The discussion grew warm, extending late into the after- 
noon. When the question came to a vote Cox was ex- 
cluded by a majority of one. 

The trouble was not yet over. Cox's influence in 
the Association was great, and he was pastor of two other 
churches, where the same question must be met. At 
Travis church Cox had a majority, but after his ex- 
clusion from his own church they voted themselves letters 



By B. F. Fuller. 385 

and formed an organization separate from Baptists. The 
matter soon came up at -Independence, where Cox was 
also pastor. Tryon was present. A definite issue was 
joined, and Tryon, with his great powers, defended the 
Baptist faith, and this church was also saved by a ma- 
jority of one. The Cox party was excluded, and J. L. • 
Davis left the Baptists. The church for many years 
suffered greatly from this incident. Since this firm stand 
for sound doctrine by the fathers of our denomination 
in Texas, our churches have been troubled but little by 
Campbellism. 

THE HAEDSHELLS. 

Our churches, in their early history were also greatly 
handicapped in some sections by an extreme antinomian 
spirit, that bitterly opposed every form of mission work. 
Alien immersion was also brought in from the States, 
which made it necessary for the churches to meet this 
innovation with prompt and decisive action. Elder Isaac 
Reed came from Tennessee in 183-i, and settled a few 
miles north of Xacogdoches. He organized Union 
church, the first church in East Texas. He was an active 
and influential minister, and organized many others of 
the earlier churches. While professing a missionary 
spirit, he resolutely opposed all boards and societies for 
mission work, as well as Sunday-schools, and all benev- 
olent organizations. Eeed assisted in the organization of 
Sabine Association, the first in East Texas, and had 
great influence in that body. His opposition to all these 
enterprises became so bitter that it brought great trouble 
and confusion in the Association. This finally culmi- 



386 History of Texas Baptists. 

nated in the division of the Association. Reed and his 
anti-mission brethren then organized an association of 
their own, on anti-mission principles, and were thus elim- 
inated from the denomination, and were no longer a dis- 
, turbing element. 

Rev. Abner Smith came to Texas from Alabama in 
1834, bringing his church with him, and all settled on 
the Colorado river. Mr. Smith and his church persist- 
ently opposed all mission enterprises. Rev. Daniel 
Parker was so extreme in his antinomian two-seed doc- 
trine that he did not attempt to affiliate with missionary 
Baptist churches in any way, and gave them little trouble, 
though he was an able preacher. The line between the 
Baptist churches and these primitive Baptists, as they 
called themselves, soon became so marked and distinct 
that they ceased to be a disturbing element. A few of 
these churches are still found scattered over the State, 
embracing most excellent people in their membership, 
but their organizations are lifeless and seemingly aim- 
less. 

Other departures from the Baptist faith were also 
promptly met by the faithful brethren of our early his- 
tor} r . In 1854 Rev. A. Ledbetter, who had been for three 
successive years Moderator of Trinity River Association, 
was charged with preaching the doctrine of apostasy. At 
the seventh session of the Association, held with Centre- 
ville church in 1854, Ledbetter was to preach the mis- 
sionary sermon on Sunday. On Saturday Morrell, Creath 
and Baines had an interview with him on this subject. 
When he frankly admitted that he believed this doctrine 
of apostasy, they challenged his right to preach this ser- 
mon, and he publicly withdrew from the Association. 



By B. F. Fuller. 387 

About this time the Rev. Mr. Strand came into the 
bounds of this Association, bearing the credentials of a 
Baptist preacher, but openly preached universalism. He 
was promptly repudiated. The severe measures of the 
anti-mission Baptists had the effect of driving some to 
the opposite extreme, under the name of Free-will Bap- 
tists. This departure was scarcely less hurtful than the 
first. While the Hardshells were wholly anti-effort, and 
gave man nothing to do, the latter were all-effort, and 
gave man more to do than the Bible allowed. While the 
first were justly charged with illiberality, the Free-wills 
were so liberal that a distinctive denominational char- 
acter was almost entirely obliterated. They invited all 
Christians, without any other qualification, to the com- 
munion table. An association of these Free-will Baptists 
was organized in East Texas some time previous to 1850. 
This movement made but little progress, and this asso- 
ciation was lost entirely. 

The pioneers of our faith in Texas thus struggled 
against these departures, and these difficulties in the way 
of progress, with such true loyalty to the teachings of 
the Bible, and such devotion to our creed, that sound 
doctrine at last prevailed, more generally perhaps among 
Texas Baptists than anywhere. In our later history, 
therefore, we hear but little about heresy until within the 
last decade, when new heresies of a formidable nature 
had to be met. 

MARTIN-ISM. 

Rev. M. T. Martin, a member of the First Baptist 
church of Waco, a young minister of talent and exemplary 



538 History of Texas Baptists. 

Christian life, had for some time previous to 1889 caused 
:_-.;::: iTiiriiizis::- izizng in= zr-^hr^r. :v "?;: ::ir;. 
considered a serious departure from the faith, in preach- 
ing unsound doctrine on the subject of faith and assur- 
t ance. In March. 1889, rhe pastor and deacons of the 
church held a conference with him, with a view of re- 
claiming him from his serious error. But this confer- 
ence failed to accomplish anything, and Mr. Martin 
forced an issue by applying for a letter of dism- 
which the church could not grant without heing com- 
mitted to his heresy. Therefore the following charges 
were brought against him by the deacons: 

. M. T. Martin, member and ordained m:: 
lis church, has at various places and times since his 
connection with this church and responsibility to it taught 
doctrines contrary to our acknowledged standard of faith 
and polity, thereby causing division and trouble in our 
denomination. We further charge that after the pastor 
had prr id kindly called his attention to these 

matters, and admonished him more than once to be more 
careful and circumspect in his publications and pulpit 
utterances, and when trouble and confusion, excited by 
t his ministerial course and practices, had assumed such 
I proportions that the elders and deacons of the church in- 
■ -vited him to a private and fraternal conference concern- 
ing these matters, and wh : led in such conference, 
he being voluntarily present and participating, they did, 
by long and painstaking labor, seek earnestly to find some 
ground of adjustment, and did kindly admonish him 
and implore him to benefit by the lessons of the past : yet 
since that time the trouble and confusion following his 
ministerial labors, and excited by them, have increased 
ban diminished. 

further to charge that some of his 
n the fraternal conference, a partial result 



By B. F. Fuller. 389 

of which was published for his benefit,in theform of 
answers to direct questions, and referring to what he had 
•taught in various places, have not been confirmed, but 
refuted, rather, by the testimony of many pastors with 
whom he labored, and which testimony he invoked. 

"And we further charge 'that even in so short a time, 
in some places where his doctrines have been received and 
his spirit imbibed, the effect has been detrimental to 
prayer-meetings, Sunday-schools, mission work and other 
denominational activities. 

"Signed bv F. L. Carroll, S. B. Humphreys. W. H. 
Long, A. H. Sneed, J. T. Battle. J. C. McCrary, dea- 
cons. " 

These charges are particularized in six specifications, 
which, condensed, are as follows: 

1. Violation of Article 7 of his church (New Hamp- 
shire) declaration (of faith). This article he violates, in 
that he teaches two new births instead of one ; a birth of 
generation by the Spirit, and a later birth or generation 
by the Word, thus contrary to all Baptist interpretation, 
contradistinguishing regeneration, not from a fleshly 
birth, but from a previous generation of the Spirit, there- 
by making regeneration to consist, not as this article 
affirms, "in giving a holy disposition to the mind," but 
in the belief of the truth, and in making it the effect, not 
of the Holy Spirit, but of the truth believed. 

2. Violation of Article 10 on sanctification (Article 
13 of the Philadelphia Confession). He opposes these 
articles, in that he makes sanctification precede conver- 
sion and faith ; confounds it with regeneration ; logically 
denies its progressive character, and that it its one for 
heaven. 

3. On Faith and Assurance. — He makes a full com- 



390 History of Texas Baptists. 

prehension of all that is revealed concerning the object 
of faith, or the promises to it, essential to its saving ex- 
ercise. He makes assurance, or absence of doubt, so 
essential to faith as that the latter cannot exist without 
the former. By this he adds a condition to salvation it- 
self, and to the ordinances, and to the office of the min- 
istry unknown to the Scriptures and to our standards. 
(See Article 9 of Xew Hampshire Declaration, and 
Article 8 of Philadelphia Confession.) 

4. Making Assurance a Prerequisite to Baptism. — 
By making assurance or absence of doubt an essential to 
saving faith and prerequisite to baptism, he has brought 
such great confusion in our denomination, and caused 
such repetition of baptism and ordination as is without 
a parallel in our denominational history. 

5. On Repentance. — His definition: "Repentance is 
knowing God and turning from dead works." As might 
be expected from such a definition, he minifies and de- 
preciates this doctrine. He justifies the failure to preach 
repentance by the inappropriate illustration: "When a 
physician wants a patient to vomit, he doesn't tell him 
to vomit, but gives him an emetic, and it vomits itself/' 
We submit that, aside from the lack of analogy in this 
illustration, which shows a physical effect not dependent 
upon the will, it would equally justify a failure to preach 
faith or any other duty. Article 8, of our Confession: 
"We believe that repentance is a sacred duty and grace 
wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, 
whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and 
helplessness, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, 
confession and supplication for mercy." 

6. On Prayer. — Brother Martin usually not only re- 



By B. F. Fuller. 391 

duces his prayer service in protracted meetings to a mini- 
mum, startling to Baptist preachers, and not only lays 
exceptionally little stress on its importance in his preach- 
ing, but his teachings are against the duty and privilege 
of sinners' praying for forgiveness, and the privilege and 
duty of Christians praying that sinners may be for- J 
given. I 

Specification 2 was withdrawn, and Xo. 5 was not 
pressed to a vote. The remaining four specifications 
were sustained, and the general charge was, on a vote of 
more than three to one, declared sustained. Elders S. B. 
M. Jenkins, pastor of the Second Waco church, and John 
Bateman, pastor of the East Waco church, on invitation, 
•sat with the First church, and concurred in the decision 
in these words : "The trial was fair, the spirit good, and 
in our judgment the decision of the church was wise." 

M. T. Martin's credentials as a minister of the Gospel 
were. then recalled. The church, however, immediately 
granted a letter of dismission to him as a layman. Soon 
after Mr. Martin went to Georgia, and on that letter 
joined the Woodstock church, and was soon, by that 
church, licensed to preach. He returned to Texas, bring- 
ing a letter from Woodstock, and joined the Marlin 
church, within the bounds of Waco Association. This 
church then called a council, which met November 28, 
1889, composed of Elders J. H. Eoland, P. Harris; G. 
W. Cappis, S. W. Smith, A. J. Wharton, J. F. McLeod 
and Peter Brewer. This council declared that M. T. 
Martin should be restored to his former ministerial func- 
tions, and advised the Waco church as follows: 

"That in order to do this in the scriptural, speedy 
and amicable way, you should appoint a committee of 



392 History of Texas Baptists. 

judicious brethren' from your body to bear the findings 
of this council with your petition to the First Baptist 
church of Waco, praying said church to restore Brother 
Martin's credentials or waive her right in said restoration 
in favor of the Marlin church/' 

Marlin church sent her pastor and deacons to Waco 
with the following petition: 

"The Baptist church at Marlin, Texas, to the First 
Baptist church at Waco, Texas, Greeting — Dear Breth- 
ren : In compliance with the advice of a council of min- 
isters, whose findings accompany this petition we send 
you our brethren, pastor and deacons of our church to 
bear you our petition and represent us before your body, 
asking you, if in your judgment you can conscientiously 
do so, to restore the credentials of Brother M. T. Martin, 
who has been recently deposed from the ministry by your 
church, and who is now a member of our church. If in 
your judgment you cannot conscientiously comply with 
this request, we ask that you, by act of your body, inform 
us that you will not on your part regard us as violating 
the fraternal relations between us if we should invest him 
with credentials. The council whose advice we send you . 
have declared their conviction that Brother Martin should 
preach. As a church, we declare our belief that he should 
preach. We do not argue the case, but fraternally ask 
you to answer this, our request, referring you to our com- 
mittee for reasons, information, etc. 

"Marlin Baptist Church, 
"In conference assembled, December 1, 1889." 

When this communication was received by the Waco 
church it was referred to a committee, composed of R. 
C. Burleson, S. B. Humphries, A. H. Sneed, J. T. Battle, 
W. H. Jenkins and B. H. Carroll. Brother Carroll, of 
the committee, propounded to the Marlin committee a 



By B. F. Fuller. 393 

series of questions in writing, which were answered in 
writing. These answers were declared to be unsatisfac- 
tory for several reasons, among which was : 

"There has been no scrap of evidence whatever sent 
to ns or published to the world to justify the findings of 
the Marlin council in regard to M. T. Martin's doctrine, 
but simply asking that his credentials be restored upon 
a naked ipse dixit/' 

"Without waiting further for action of Waco church, 
in February. IS 90. Marlin church proceeded to adopt a 
resolution investing M. T. Martin with "authority to 
preach the Gospel and administer the sacred ordinances 
thereof.'* 

When Waco Association met at Lorena in September, 
1 B J, the letter from the First Baptist church of Waco 
was accompanied with charges against "Marlin church. 
These charges were referred to a committee of nine, which 
reported as follows : 

"Tour committee, to whom was referred the charges 
of the Waco church against the Marlin church, respect- 
fully submit the following report: 

"That the brethren of the Marlin church, havmg 
waived any pleading to the charges of the Waco church, 
we recommend that the Waco church, through their select 
representative, be allowed one hour to present their case 
before the Association, and the Marlin church be given 
one hour and a half to reply, and the Waco church be 
then given thirty minutes in final rejoinder: after which 
the Association proceed without discussion to vote upon 
the question as to the merits of the charge.*'" 

The representatives of the Marlin church excepted 
to the charges, on the ground that they should be pre- 



394 History of Texas Baptists. 

ferred by the Association, arid not by a church, and to 
save further dilatory proceedings the Association, by 
resolution, made the charges her own for purposes of in- 
vestigation. 

CHARGE. 

"In her several proceedings relative to M. T. Martin, 

a minister deposed by a sister church in the same Associa- 
tion, the Baptist church at Marlin has repeatedly, wilful- 
ly, and in spite of timely admonition and labors of sister 
churches, violated the principles of associational com- 
pact embodied in our constitution, thereby disrupting 
the peace and harmony of the Association. 

SPECIFICATIONS. 

"1. We charge a violation of the law involved in 
Article 1, Section 4, of the constitution, which declares 
that "the objects of this Association shall be to establish 
and perpetuate a union, correspondence and fellowship 
between her respective churches. 7 

'■'?. A violation of the law involved in Article V, 
Section 1, construed with Section 3, and construed with 
Article 4. Section 2, which reads: 'Article 5. Section 1. — 
Other churches may be admitted into this Association 
by letter and delegate, provided they be found to be or- 
derly and orthodox, and upon such admission the Mod- 
erator shall extend to the delegates the right hand of fel- 
lowship/ 'Section 3. — This Association shall adopt and 
publish her Articles of Faith.' ''Article 4, Section 2.— 
This Association claims the right to withdraw from and 
disfellowship any church which shall depart from the 
principles of this compact, or become heterodox in faith 
or disorderly in practice, and to thi- end may institute 
inquiry concerning fellowship and order/ 

"3. A violation of the law involved in Article 4, 



By B. F. Fuller. 395 

Section 3, which reads: 'This Association, with respect 
to her authority over her churches, is merely an advisory 
council, and it shall be her duty to exercise her office as 
such in all cases of disagreement or difficulty in or be- 
tween her constituent churches/ 

"4. We charge as unbecoming existing associational 
ties, binding the churches, the disrespect shown by Mar- ' 
lin church in treatment of the affectionate and respect- i 
ful petition and admonition of several sister churches, 
urging a stay of her proceedings, until counsel of the 
Association could be obtained. 

"5. We charge that by the foregoing disregard of 
associational ties, and on the assumption that Waco 
church had done any wrong in the deposition of M. T. 
Martin, as is implied in the course of the accused church, 
then that church adopted a method of procedure calcu- 
lated to defeat, rather than promote, the righting of such 
wrong by the proper party ; on the other hand, if it was 
proven to the satisfaction of Waco church it was the de- 
posed minister who was guilty of wrong, then Marlins p 
course was calculated to encourage and confirm him in 
wrong, rather than promote repentance and confession. 

"In all these particulars Marlin has violated G-ospel 
order, the sanctity of discipline, the comity acknowledged 
and observed by the Baptist churches, Christ's law of 
love and fellowship, binding the churches, and has 
brought our form of church government into reproach in 
the presence of its enemies. 

"We therefore respectfully and fraternally urge that 
the Association now exercise its constitutional preroga- 
tive of 'instituting inquiry concerning fellowship and 
order' in these matters, to the end that Mariin church 
may be vindicated if innocent, or led to repentance and 
confession if guilty; or if guilty, on failure of such re- 
pentance and confession, the Association may vindicate 
her own law by withdrawing from and disfellowshiping 
a delinquent and impenitent church." 



396 History of Texas Baptists. 

J. E. M. Touchstone, pastor of Marlin church, then 
presented the defense for his church, and concluded by 
reading the following statement: 

"To the Waco Baptist Association. Convened at Lo- 
rena, Texas — Dear Brethren: We have received a copy 
of the charges preferred against us before your body by 
the First Baptist church of Waeo> concerning our several 
proceedings, which culminated in the restoration of M. 
T. Martin to the ministry, who had been deposed by the 
Waco church. 

"After much reflection we concede that these several 
proceedings of ours were calculated, under the circum- 
stances, to disturb the peace of the Association, and to be 
construed as a violation of our associational compact. 
We regret that our actions have been so construed. We 
beg to assure you that it was not our intention to violate 
our associational compact, or in any way to inflict an 
injury upon a sister church. We voluntarily make this 
statement in the interest of peace. 

"We deplore the troubles and anxieties which have in 

any way resulted from our actions, and trust that this 

statement may be satisfactory to Waco church and to 

your body, and that the old and pleasant relations may 

^ be restored." 

! 

Upon a final vote the charges were sustained by a 

vote of seventy-seven to seven, and fellowship was de- 
clared withdrawn from Marlin church. J. R. M. Touch- 
stone raised the point of order that a church could not be 
excluded except by a unanimous vote, but the Moderator 
ruled that a majority vote was sufficient. 

At the next session of the Association a petition from 
Mnrlin church was presented by Pastor Touchstone, ask- 
ing restoration to the fellowship of the Association, in 



By B. F. Fuller. 397 

which, among other things, it is stated: "We willingly 
concede that the Association sustained the charges, and 
we cheerfully submit to the wisdom and decision of our 
brethren." On motion the church was restored to fel- 
lowship. 

The main point on which Martin's faith was wrecked 
was assurance, which he denned to be "freedom from 
doubt,"' and he emphasized this with all the fervor of his 
nature, continually repeating, "Whoever doubts, or has 
doubted, his conversion is not sound.''" This was his re- 
frain in even* sermon and the burden of his ministry. 
Witnesses on the trial stated it thus: "'-Brother Martin 
.preached that if a man had a doubt as to his conversion 
he gave every other man a right to doubt it. too." And 
in this connection he was strong in asserting that if a 
man is saved he knows it, and the logic of his position 
was that if he did not know it, this was evidence con- 
clusive that he was not saved. The consequences were, 
that inside the church, mainly, conversion under his min- 
istry took place, according to his doctrine. The faith 
of the oldest and most Godly members was upset, and 
great confusion resulted, and rebaptisms were frequent. 
Notwithstanding the emphatic condemnation by Waco 
church and Waco Association, Mr. Martin continued as- 
siduously to propagate his heresy, so that at the session 
of Waco Association in 1595 this body felt it necessary 
to adopt the following resolution: 

'•Whereas, in various portions of Texas. Baptist 
churches are being divided and schismatic bodies organ- 
ized in antagonism to Baptist churches by the advocates 
of the heresy known as Martinism: and, 

•'•'Whereas, at this time there seems to be a precon- 



39S History of Texas Baptists. 

certed plan aggressively to propagate Martinism in Texas, 
therefore, 

'"Besolved, That the Waco Association declare non- 
fellowship for the doctrines and followers of M. T. Mar- 
tin, and nrge onr Baptist bodies throughout the State to 
take similar action, to the end that Baptist churches and 
i principles may be protected and preserved." 

The Baptist General Convention, meeting in Belton 
in 1895. also adopted the following: 

"The fact that a man presenting himself here for 
membership as a messenger is known to believe and teach 
by speech or pen the doctrine heretofore mentioned and 
commonly known as 'Martinism/ shall be sufficient cause 
for his rejection as a member." 

In this connection Rev. J. L. "Walker, in his History 
of Waco Association, says: "It is but just to state that 
Elder J. B. M. Touchstone has long since publicly with- 
drawn all indorsement of the peculiar doctrinal views of 
Martin. Elder J. H. Boland, now gone to his reward, 
did the same. J. F. McLeod perhaps never indorsed his 
extreme view-.'" 
I It is to be hoped that Martinism is forever dead. 

FORTUXISM. 

In the autumn of 1891 the First Baptist church of 
Paris. Texas, was without a pastor, and there appeared 
in Paris a man by the name of George M. Fortune, claim- 
ing to be a Baptist minister, and was invited by the 
church to preach. After preaching a few sermons he was 
called by the church to be their pastor. He was unknown" 
in the State. but was from Arkansas. He was a man of fine 



By B. F. Fuller. 399 

address, of a literary turn, and seemed to be scholarly in 
his attainments, and withal a fine pulpit orator. It 
seems, from what was afterwards learned, that his prev- 
ious life had been a checkered one. He had been a 
Methodist preacher in Illinois, a temperance lecturer and 
lawyer in Kansas, and a Baptist preacher in Arkansas. 
It was not long before it became apparent that he held 
very loose views on the authenticity of the Scriptures. 
The trend of his teaching was towards higher criticism,, 
and he was generally out of harmony with the accepted 
standards of the Baptist faith. In 1S94 he published 
two sermons on the atonement, in which he boldly and 
pointedly repudiated the doctrine of the vicarious atone- 
ment of Jesus Christ, denying that Christ died for, and 
instead of sinners, becoming the sinners'* substitute; re- 
jecting also the doctrine of the imputed righteousness of 
Christ; maintaining that we are not saved by Christ's 
death, but by his life. A few quotations from these re- 
markable sermons will illustrate Br. Fortune's wild 
theories on the subject of the atonement. Referring to 
substitution, he says : 

"Looking at this theory, then, as a theory, and analyz- 
ing it upon its merits, its meaning obviously leads to two 
propositions, both of which do the gravest violence, not 
only to the Christian religion, but to justice and truth. 
The fundamental principle of this theory is that Jesus 
literally took the sinner's place and bore the penalty of 
his sins. The first objection to this is that" God made 
His son Jesus Christ sin, who knew no sin. That is to 
say, if the theory of substitution be correct, God con- 
sented to look on Jesus Christ as a sinner, who at the 
same time was not a sinner, in order that He might be 



400 History of Texas Baptists. 

able to look on man, who is a sinner, as a righteous man, 
But one thing is sure — a truth is a truth forever and 
everywhere. That which is true on earth is true in 
heaven. The calling of that true, which is not true, does 
not change its nature." 

Fortune does not consider that we must accept this 
doctrine because we find it plainly taught in the Bible, 
but claims that it must be verified on logical principles 
of ratiocination, and goes on further to say: 

"We cannot accept a proposition, however sanctioned, 
if it charges God with doing violence to the cardinal vir- 
tues. This is why we are compelled to dispute the cor- 
rectness of this substitutionary theory of Augustine and 
Calvin. It charges God with both folly and falsehood. 
To regard Jesus as a sinner is either true or false. If 
true, He cannot be our Savior. If false, it charges God 
with untruth. * * * So that when it is said God 
made Jesus a sinner, who was not a sinner, I understand 
the proposition, and solemnly avow that it is not only un- 
scriptural and unphilosophical, but is not true, and can- 
not be true, if God be the God of truth. * * * It 
cannot be that God consented to such a travesty." 

After quoting what Paul says on this subject in Gal. 
3:13, and 2 Cor. 5:21, he evidently rejects Paul's ver- 
sion, and says: 

"Jesus was made sin for us, not in the literal and 
real way in which Paul uses it," and takes consolation 
in the following assertion : "But we have cause for grati- 
tude that theology is a progressive science." « 

This sermon of Dr. Fortune was printed in pamphlet 
form and freely circulated by mailing copies to leading 
Baptist ministers all over the State, and it met with a 



By B. F. Fuller. 401 

general, if not a universal, condemnation. Both of our 
State papers promptly condemned it, and there appeared 
in the papers many able reviews and criticisms. Dr. W. 
A. Jarrell sounded the note. of danger in a communica- 
tion in the Texas Baptist of September 5, 1895, in which 
he said: ; 

"There can be no question, if Baptists understand the i 
Bible, that Dr. Fortune is so antagonistic to the G-ospel 
as to be utterly disqualified for even membership in a 
church, much less a Gospel preacher or pastor of a Bap- 
tist church." 

Dr. A. B. Miller, pastor of the Bonham church, in the 
same paper of September 19, also said : 

"If I correctly understood Dr. Fortune's position, it 
may be stated thus: Christ identified himself with tne 
race of man in nature and experience that He might res- 
cue and save the lost, and that this is effected by His life, 
not necessarily by His death, which He regards as acci- 
dental, or merely incidental;" adding: "All must see 
and know that he is radically and essentially wrong." 

In the Baptist Standard of October 20, 1895, in a 
published sermon of Dr. B. H. Carroll, of Waco, the fol- 
lowing passage appears in reference to Dr. Fortuned ■ 
sermons : 

"I regard it as a candid, outright, downright, au- 
dacious attack on the central, vital doctrines of not only 
the Baptist faith, but the faith of evangelical Christen- 
dom. The church which follows such leadership from 
this time forward does it without excuse, and with open 
eyes : and by such following certainly looses from Baptist 
moorings, and goes out into an open sea under an alien 
flag." 



402 History of Texas Baptists. 

When the Baptist General Convention met at Belton 
in 1895 the First Baptist church of Paris was denied 
fellowship on account of Dr. Fortune, and a resolution 
offered by W. A. Jarrell was adopted, declaring, among 
other things: "That no one shall be recognized a mem- 
ber of this body who holds that Christ is not the believ- 
er's substitute, penalty and righteousness, a doctrine held 
by Fortunisni." This resolution was referred to a com- 
mittee, which reported as follows: 

"We further declare that the death of Christ on the 
cross was held by the churches defined to be 'regular Bap- 
tist churches/ to be necessary, expiatory, in the place of 
the sinner, in satisfaction of divine justice, and therefor 
substitutionary ; the benefits of which come to us by grace 
through faith, God imputing Christ's righteousness to 
us, having imputed our sins to Him. Any organization 
which holds and promulgates in any way any doctrine in 
conflict with this substantial statement of the belief of 
the churches denned in the constitution is not entitled 
to representation in this Convention." 

Xotwithstanding all this, Dr. Fortune was able to 
carry with him a controlling number of the church. But 
a faithful few stood firm and protested steadily against 
this heresy, and demanded Dr. Fortune's resignation as 
pastor. In every test vote they were greatly in the minor- 
ity, a great many being too timid to vote at all. A reso- 
lution was offered to call a mutual council, but the ma- 
jority, in the interest of Fortune, rejected the proposition 
by a decided majority vote. The protesting minority 
then proceeded to call an ex-parte council. Letters mis- 
sive were accordingly sent out to many churches all over 
the State, and some to our adjoining State, Arkansas, 



By B. F. Fuller. 403 

asking that they send their pastors or deacons, or any 
member they might elect, to meet in council at Paris, 
Texas, on the 11th day of February, 1896. When the 
council met forty-one names were enrolled, including 
many of the ablest men in our State, together with Dr. 
J. B. Moody, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. A committee 
was appointed to see Dr. Fortune and ask him to be 
present and participate in the council. The council be- 
ing called to order, Dr. E. C. Burleson, President of 
Waco University, was chosen Chairman, and Dr. B. R. 
Womack, of Sulphur Springs, was made Secretary. B. 
F. Fuller, of the First church of Paris, then said : 

"Before we proceed further, let me, in the name of the 
minority of the First Baptist church of Paris, extend a 
most hearty welcome to the brethren who have so kindly 
consented to meet with us in this council and aid us by 
their advice in trying to determine this question, which 
has weighed so heavily upon our minds for months, and 
I may say for years. This has been a very serious matter 
for us, and we did not know exactly what course we should 
pursue. It had been suggested that the easiest way for 
us would be to withdraw from the church and go some- 
where else. We hesitated some time about this, but we 
remembered that the greatest crime known to military 
law was for a soldier to desert the flag in the face of the 
enemy, and we felt that, leaving the church when it was 
so assailed by this deadly heresy, would be treason to our 
God. We therefore could not leave. We must stand by 
our colors; but as the burden was too heavy for us to 
bear alone, we invited you here to advise us. There are 
only a few of us in this minority, but we remembered 
that majorities are not always right, and minorities are 



404 History of Texas Baptists. 

not always crushed. We remembered that in days long 
ago Elijah stood before the prophets of Baal and said: 
'How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord 
be God follow Him ; if Baal, then follow him/ % even 
I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets 
are four hundred and fifty men/ We ask you to investi- 
gate this matter, and what you do, do it for the glory of 
God, no matter who is vindicated, or who is condemned/' 
He then announced that a statement of their case had 
been prepared, including the charges and questions which 
were to be investigated. As attorney for the minority, he 
presented them for the consideration of the council, and 
from which we quote the published proceedings as fol- 
lows : 



"1. That he has no just conception of the unap- 
proachable truths of Christianity and its incomparable 
superiority over all other forms of worship, and has open- 
ly taught 'That the substitution of one system of wor- 
ship for another is of no moment whatever, and is not 
worth the utterance of a sigh, or the falling of a single 
tear/ 

"2. He denies the Bible account of the introduction 
of sin and transgression into the Garden of Eden, and 
fall of Satan, etc., and teaches that Satan did not tempt 
Adam and Eve. 

"3. He denies and repudiates the doctrine of the 
vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ ; denies that He died 
for and instead of sinners, becoming their substitute; 
and denies the imputed righteousness of Christ. 

"4. It is further alleged that said G. M. Fortune 
does not believe and does not teach the full inspiration 
and authenticity of the Holy Scriptures ; but does teach 
that nothing is absolutely settled; and accepts that only 
as truth which is verified by scientific investigation, and 



By B. F. Fuller. 405 

that no man is required to believe what he cannot under- 
stand. 

"5. That he is unbaptistic in all his sympathies and 
predilections, repudiating Baptist theological institutions, 
and ignoring Baptist literature." 

These charges were taken up seriatim, and evidence 
was produced and discussed, and each one of them was 
sustained by a unanimous vote of the council. The third 
charge was referred to a special committee, which report- 
ed as follows : 

"We, your committee on the views of G. M. Fortune, 
pastor of the First Baptist church, relative to his public 
utterances on the atonement, substitution and imputa- 
tion, would respectfully submit the following: 

"We have read carefully his two published sermons 
on the atonement, and his defense before the church com- 
mittee when under charge of heresy, together with several 
articles published by him in the denominational papers, 
and feel bound to say that we have found him diamet- 
rically opposed to the doctrine of the vicarious suffering, 
the substitution, the atonement and imputation of Christ's 
righteousness. His views are, as an entirety, unscriptural, 
and therefore unbaptistic, and out of harmony with the 
universally accepted doctrine of the Baptist denomina- 
tion. In his published sermons he says: 'The entire 
modern notion of the vicarious atonement of Christ is 
a stranger to the Bible. Xot a word, not a sentence, can 
be legitimately construed to sustain the theory of legal 
or penal substitution of Christ for our own. If that doc- 
trine can find support from any source, it must be sought 
elsewhere than in the Holy Scriptures. Xow. we do not 
hesitate to say that any theory, whose object is to show 
how justice and mercy are reconciled in atonement, pro- 
ceeds from a mistaken assumption. In harmony with 
the theory of substitution, and indeed an essential part 



406 History of Texas Baptists, 

of it. is the doctrine of imputation. It ic sufficient to 

:hat nowhere in the New Testament is the doctrine 

of the imputation of Christ's righteousness taught Xo- 

where do the writers of the New Testament : .-11 us that 
Chris: - rightc rasness is imputed ro us." " 

ecial committee was appointed to repor: 
eral findings of : 1. ind W. A. JarrelL Chair- 

man, submitted the folio ■ unanimously 

adopted : 

: council, called together by the minority of 
the First Baptist church of P : ; Texas, February 11, 

: to the doctrine and pr 

Mir. George If. F liter careful 

n :ion do unh— _"_-.- declare :orge M. 

Fortune, on the following poin: % :ral : 

"1. He denies the ezif or personality of the 

devil. 

"2. He denies that the Bible devil 

seduced our fi 
the tempter of man till the final judge. 

He denies the full and unerring inspiration of 
the Bible. 

He denies that Christ is the substitute to bear 
the penalty of the sinner. 

He denies that the sinner s sin was imputed to 
b might be imputed to the 
er. In other words, he denies the Bible atonement. 
He denies that justice demands the sinner's 
death 

He denies the eternity of the punishment of the 
sinner. 

"8. He denies the Bible doctrine of the resurrec- 
tion. 

"9. He teaches that heathen and Bible worship are 



By B. F. Fuller. 407 

substantially acceptable to God, and are but part of evo- 
lution, and are equally of God. 

"That in church polity he is anti-scriptural : 

"1. In teaching all forms of worship are acceptable 
to God. 

"2. In teaching and practicing open communion. 

"3. In encouraging the subversion of church dis- 
cipline and the deprivation of the scriptural rights of 
members of the church. 

"In view of the above facts and other testimony not 
herein recorded, we believe that said G. M. Fortune is 
not entitled to the fellowship of Baptist churches, and 
that the minority, having followed the Scriptures in their 
faith, practice and protests, should be regarded the First 
Baptist church of Paris." 

Xotwithstanding all this, Fortune continued to preach 
to the majority until August, 1896, when he resigned, 
but was afterwards engaged as a supply by them, and 
they still held possession of the church building. He 
continued to preach and propagate his heresy until the 
summer of 1897, when he abandoned the church and the 
ministry, and repudiated the Baptist faith, and opened 
a law office in the Indian Territory. 

The minority, being denied the use of their house of 
worship, although declared to be the true church, hired 
a hall, and have continued to hold regular services as 
the First Baptist church of Paris, and a majority of the 
old church now affiliate with them, and they are a pros- 
perous organization. The strong majority, however, that 
adhered to Fortune have become so demoralized in faith 
and doctrine by Fortune's heresy that they are not able 
to do anything for Christ. There are, however, among 
them many noble, devout Christians, who will not give 



4 ; 5 History of Texas Baptists. 

up the Bible, and cannot repudiate the Baptist faith. As 
a body they are repudiated by Baptists everywhere, and 
seem to be making no effort to keep up an organize: 
but as individual Christians they are the subject if fee 
tenderest solicitude by Baptists all : v& the State. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE OWNERSHIP OF CHURCH 
PROPERTY IX TEXAS. 

The questions involved in this subject have recently 
become of such absorbing interest to Baptist churches in 
this State that a careful examination into the proposition 
will doubtless be generally welcomed. There is evidently 
an increased desire to understand more definitely the 
tenure by which church property is held. In view of the 
vast amount of money invested in such property in our 
State, and the tender ties that often cling around our 
church edifices, consecrated by so many sacred memories 
and endeared by so many memorials, this is but natural. 
The absorbing question continually coming before Bap- 
tist churches investing large sums or small sums in build- 
ing lots and erecting costly houses of worship or more 
humble houses of worship thereon, devoted to the main- 
tenance of the true principles of the Baptist faith, is, 
Can all this, in defiance of this trust, by any possible 
means which our civil courts will sustain, be diverted to 
the support and propagation of a doctrine antagonistic 
to and subversive of these very principles? Whether a 
mere majority can make at will such fundamental, vital 
changes in the faith as to constitute something else other 
than a Baptist church, and legally carry the property 
with them to its support ? Do the courts of our country 
furnish any security and protection in this direction ? 
(409) 



410 History of Texas Baptists. 

As this State has no special statute on this subject, 
and the question had not, until recently, come before 
our State courts, we were compelled to look to and de- 
pend upon the general principles of equity, and their 
expositions by the courts of other States. An examina- 
tion of these left no doubt that such property was charged 
with a trust for the support of the doctrines and prin- 
ciples of such a church as held at its organization, and 
that the courts will enforce that trust. • An unbroken line 
of decisions of courts of last resort in our country sus- 
tained this view. To show this, instead of quoting from 
these various decisions, we will give the entire opinion of 
the leading case on this subject as late as 1896, when 
this case was decided. This is the Mt. Tabor Baptist 
church case of Indiana. This exhaustive opinion of Jus- 
tice McCabe, of the Supreme Court of Indiana, with its 
free quotations from courts all over the country, gives 
such a clear and sound exposition of the subject of our 
enquiry in this chapter that it covers the whole question, 
and we give it as reported. The church divided on the 
doctrinal question of Calvinism and Arminianism. The 
majority were strongly Calvinistic, and the minority 
were Arminian. The minority, being expelled, brought 
suit for the possession of the property, claiming that the 
majority had departed from the Baptist faith, and there- 
by lost their identity as a Baptist church, and that the 
minority was the true church, because they stood upon 
the faith as it was in the original organization. This 
case is reported in 32 Lawyers' Reports, Annotated, page 
838, and is as follows: 

"Albert Smith et al., appellants, vs. Robert Pedigo et ah 
(Indiana.) 



By B. F. Fuller. 411" 

"1. The majority of the church which has abandoned 
the religious faith, on which the church was founded, 
cannot hold the church property against the minority, 
which adheres to the original doctrines. 

"2. The excommunication by a majority faction of 
a church of the minority members, who still adhere to 
the original faith, and claim to be the church, cannot 
affect the rights of the minority to the church property. 

"3. The minority members of a church, acting in 
harmony with its ecclesiastical laws, and adhering to the 
faith, constitute the church, as against a majority which 
has departed from the faith. 

"4. The 'means' doctrine, to the effect that conver- 
sion and salvation may be aided by the use of human 
means, is a departure from the faith of the 'regular Bap- 
tist church,' which is strongly Calvinistic. 

"5. Historical facts, showing an irreconcilable con- 
flict between Calvinistic and Arminian doctrines, are 
within judicial notice. 

"6. An answer to a complaint by trustees of a 
church, denying that they are trustees, and averring that 
defendants instead are trustees, wherefore judgment is 
demanded for costs and all proper relief, does not raise 
an issue as to the legal election of the trustees. 

(June 17, 1896.) 

"Appeal by plaintiffs from a judgment of the Circuit 
Court for Boone county, in favor of defendants, in an 
action brought to recover possession of certain real es- 
tate. On petition for rehearing. Eehearing denied. 

"McCabe, J., delivered the opinion of the court." 

Appellees have presented what they call a "petition 
for a rehearing." It is, however, not a petition, measured 
by rule of this court, No. 37. It is but an elaborate print- 
ed brief or argument of sixty-two closely printed pages. 
The rules require a petition "setting forth the cause for 
which the judgment is supposed to be erroneous." We 
would be justified in disregarding the so-callled "peti- 



412 History of Texas Baptists. 

tion," but the importance of the question involved induces 
us to carefully reconsider the questions discussed in such 
brief. 

The entire argument therein is confined to four prop- 
ositions: (1) That the opinion is based on an incorrect 
statement of the facts established by the evidence, to the 
effect that the appellees and those represented by them 
had departed from the original faith, upon which the 
church was founded; (2) that it was whollly immaterial 
if they had so departed, so long as they constituted a ma- 
jority of the membership of the church; (3) that appel- 
lants could not recover, because all their interest in the 
church property, and the interest of those they represent, 
has ceased by reason of their expulsion from the church 
before the suit was brought; and (4) that they could not 
recover, even if all other questions of law and fact were 
decided in their favor, for the reason that appellants were 
not legally elected trustees, there being no vacancy in the 
office of trustees of said church, and those electing them 
not being members of the church by reason of such ex- 
pulsion, and not being a majority of the church. 

The leading case cited in support of the proposition 
that the majority of a church, divided into two conflict- 
ing bodies, may hold the church property, though such 
majority have abandoned the religious faith on which 
: it is founded, is Watson vs. Jones (80 IT. S.), 13 Wall., 
i 679 ; 20 L. Ed., 6G6. That was a case where the Third, or 
Walnut-street, Presbyterian church of Louisville, Ivy., 
became divided into two conflicting bodies, each claim- 
ing to be the church, and each claiming the right to the 
control and possession of the church edifice and property. 
The case has no application here, because the division 
there did not arise out of any difference in religious 
faith or belief, nor was there any claim that either side 
had changed their religious belief from that on which 
the church was founded. But the division was solely on 
account of differences in political belief. One side ad- 
hered to the cause of the Union during the war of the 



By B. F. Fuller. 413 

rebellion, and the other side adhered to the cause of the 
rebellion. Appellees' counsel quote most of the following 
passage in the opinion in that case in support of their 
contention : 

"The second class of cases, which we have described, 
has reference to a* church of strictly congregational or 
independent organization, governed solely within itself, 
either by a majority of its members or by such local or- 
ganizations as it may have instituted for the purpose of 
ecclesiastical government, and to property held by such 
church, either by way of purchase or donation, with no 
other specific trust attached to it in the hands of the 
church, than it is for the use of that congregation as a 
religious society. In such a case, where there is a schism, 
which leads to separation into distinct and conflicting 
bodies, the right of such bodies must be determined by 
the ordinary principles which govern voluntary associa- 
tions. If the principle of government in such cases is 
that the,. majority rules, then the numerical majority of 
members must control the right to the use of the proper- 
ty. If there be within the congregation officers in whom 
are vested the powers of church control, then those who 
adhere to the acknowledged organism by which the body 
is governed are entitled to the use of the property. The 
minority, in choosing to separate themselves into a dis- 
tinct body, and refusing to recognize the authority of the 
governing body, can claim no rights in the property, from 
the fact that they once had been members of the church 
or congregation. This rule admits of no inquiry into 
the existing religious opinions of those who comprise the 
legal or regular organization, for if such was permitted, 
a very small minority, without any officers of the church 
among them, might be found to be the only faithful sup- 
porters of the religious dogmas of the founders of the 
church. There being no such trust imposed upon the 
property when purchased or given, the court will not 
imply one for the purpose of expelling from its use those 
who, by regular succession and order constitute the 



414 History of Texas Baptists. 

church, because they have changed in some respect their 
views of religious truth."' 

There was not only no case before the court of a 
church divided into two factions on account of one of 
them having abandoned the original faith on which it 
was founded, but the court was not speaking of such a 
case, nor a violation- of a trust arising out of such a case 
by the use of the house of worship by the departing ma- 
jority. The existing religious opinions, the right of in- 
quiry into which is denied in the opinion, have no refer- 
ence to the original faith, but have reference rather to 
the conflicting views of the two opposing bodies as to the 
Christian duty to adhere to the lawful government of 
the country in time of war of rebellion. There was no 
pretence that the original faith on which the church was 
founded, in that case, made any declaration on that sub- 
ject. There are many differences of opinion as to relig- 
ious duty and practice among the members of the same 
denomination, and even of the same church upon which 
the confession of the articles of faith is silent; for in- 
stance, the propriety of attending balls, or dances, play- 
ing cards, washing each other's feet, maintaining musical 
instruments in public worship, and the like, which differ- 
ences ordinarily furnish no grounds for a charge of a 
desertion of the faith. It was such differences that led 
to the separation of the Third, or Walnut-street, church 
in Louisville, and it was that class of differences the 
court had in mind in the use of the language above 
quoted. That it was not intended to apply the language 
to all cases is rendered clear by another passage in the 
opinion which counsel did not quote and make no mention 
of. It reads thus: 

"In such cases, if the trust is confined to a religious 
congregation of a congregational or independent form of 
church government, it is not in the power of the ma- 
jority of that congregation, however preponderant, by 
roason of a change of views on religiou? subjects, to carry 
the property so confided to them to the support of a new 



By B. F. Fuller. 415 

and conflicting doctrine. A pious man, building and 
dedicating a house of worship to the sole and exclusive 
use of those who believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trin- 
ity, and placing it under the control of a congregation, 
which at the time holds the same belief, has a right to 
expect that the law will prevent that property from being 
used as a means of support and dissemination of the 
Unitarian doctrine, and a place of Unitarian worship. 
Xor is the principle varied when the organization to 
which the trust is confined is of the second or associated 
form of church government. The protection which the 
law throws around the trust is the same. And though 
the task may be a delicate one, and a difficult one, it will 
be the duty of the court, in such cases, when the doctrine 
to be taught, or the form of worship to be used, is definite- 
ly and clearly laid down, to inquire whether the party 
accused of violating the trust is holding or teaching a 
different doctrine, or using a form of worship which is 
so far variant as to defeat the declared objects of the 
trust." 

Therefore, that case not only does not lend any sanc- 
tion to appellees' contention, but is against it. 

The next case cited by appellees' counsel in support 
of the proposition in question is Keyser vs. Stonsifer, 6 
Ohio St., 363. That also was a suit for the possession of 
a church house property by Keyser and others, a small 
faction of a Baptist church, who had separated them- 
selves from the church about a matter that had nothing 
whatever to do with the original faith upon which the 
church was founded. And it was held in accordance 
with the rule laid down in the last mentioned case, that 
in such a division of a church the property, as in ordi- 
nary voluntary associations, is held at the will of the 
majority. The division in the Ohio case was caused by 
the church's excluding Keyser on charges preferred 
against him in the course of discipline for misconduct. 
He afterwards got another member named Cox and some 
married women to join him to sue for the church edifice. 



416 History of Texas Baptists. 

The ground on which he and his associates claimed that 
they were the real church was that some time after Keyser 
had been excluded the church adopted new articles of 
faith, or a creed, and abolished the old. But there was 
no pretense that the church had abandoned the original 
doctrine or faith upon which it was founded. The divis- 
ion arose entirely out of the exclusion of Keyser from the 
church in the course of discipline, and had no reference 
to any change or departure by the majority from the 
original faith on which the church had been founded. 

The next case cited in support of the right of the 
majority to rule in matters of this kind is Shannon vs. 
Frost, 3 B. Mon., 253. Counsel complainingly remarks 
that "this case was cited by appellees in their original 
brief, but that no mention is made of it in the opinion 
rendered herein. It did not receive the cold respect of a 
passing glance." Counsel must speak from actual knowl- 
edge in making' this charge. One of them happens to 
know that all his statements are true, except that that 
case was in the original brief, because lie knows that that 
case was not cited in the original brief, but was cited on 
a separate piece of paper filed nearly a month after the 
original brief was filed. That paper contained nothing 
else but a citation of that case, and was filed on the same 
day the opinion was handed down, and after the case had 
been decided. Then the writer of the opinion pasted that 
paper fast to the original brief. He knows it was too 
late then to give the case even the cold respect of a pass- 
ing glance, after the case in which it was cited had been 
decided. However, this court was not bound to cite and 
comment on all cases cited by counsel. Such citations 
may not be worthy of such notice. But the case has not 
the slightest bearing on the question of the right of the 
majority faction of a divided church, who have departed 
from the original faith on which the church was founded, 
as against a minority faction adhering to such faith. It 
would be very much in point if there had been a division 
of the church in that case on a difference of religious be- 



By B, F. Fuller, 417 

lief, but there was no such division in that case. In that 
case seven members of a Baptist church in Frankfort, 
Ky., were regularly excommunicated from the church, 
presumably for immoral conduct. The expelled mem- 
bers, associating themselves with some other persons, pro- 
fessing the same religion, organized themselves into a 
separate community of professed Christians and elected 
trustees, which election was ratified by the County Court 
of Franklin county. Afterwards, insisting on their right 
to enjoy to some extent the house of worship built for 
and still occupied by the original church 3 they took pos- 
session and made periodical uses of it 5 without the con- 
sent and in defiance of the prohibition of the church. 
To settle the controversy the members of the original 
church sued to enjoin them. The defendants did not 
claim to own the church edifice, but claimed a right to 
use it a part of the time under a statute of Kentucky. 
That statute provides for the election of trustees by re- 
ligious societies, and among other things regulates the 
power and control by such trustees of the house of wor- 
ship belonging to such church cr society. It is also pro- 
vided therein that in case of a division in any congrega- 
tion or church from any other cause than immorality of 
its members, the trustees are not to prevent either of the 
parties so divided from using the house or houses of wor- 
ship for the purposes of devotion, a part of the time pro- 
portioned to the number of each party. It was under this 
provision that the defendants justified their attempted 
use of the house. There was no question of a difference 
of religious belief involved in the case between the two 
parties. The Court of Appeals held that the statute did 
not apply. The only other point decided was as to the 
legality of the election of trustees by the plaintiffs, con- 
stituting themselves into a new society. That point we 
shall notice further on. 

The next case cited in support of the proposition in 
question is Petty vs. Tooker, 21 N". Y., 267. That case 
does squarely hold that a religious society, incorporated 



418 History of Texas Baptists. 

under the act of the Legislature of 1813, in the State of 
New York, had power, through its trustees elected under 
that act, to change from a Congregational to a Presby- 
terian church, even over the protests of the minority of 
the members, and carry the church property with them. 
| But that was owing to the peculiar provisions of the 
, statute mentioned, and the peculiar construction placed 
upon it by the Court of Appeals of that State. Yet at 
the same time, in cases of divided churches incorporated 
under previous statutes of that State, it was held uni- 
formly by its courts, in harmony with all authority 
elsewhere, that a majority could not carry or divert the 
church property to a contrary doctrine and faith against 
the objection of a minority of the membership of the 
church adhering to the original faith on which the 
church was founded. (Miller vs. Gable, 2 Denio., 492 ; 
Knistern vs. Lutheran Churches, 1 Sandf. Ch., 439.) 
But that statute has been since modified in a subsequent 
act of the Legislature of that State. In Isham vs. First 
Presbyterian Church, 63 How., Pr. 465, it was said: 

"As the act of 1813 has been construed, the members 
of the congregation of a religious corporation were, un- 
der its provisions, left at liberty to divert the church prop- 
erty from the dissemination of the views of the persons 
acquiring it to that of any other view, whether religious 
or secular, which might be sanctioned and adopted by a 
voting majoritv of the congregation. (Robertson vs. 
Brillions, 11 N. Y., 243; Petty vs. Tooker, 21 N. Y., 
267; Burrel vs. Associate Reformed Church, 44 Barb., 
283.) This was an extreme construction of the terms 
in which the carefully guarded act of 1813 was enacted, 
and by Chapter 79 of the laws of 1875 the Legislature 
undertook its correction, and for that purpose provided 
and declared that the trustees of a religious society in- 
corporated under the act of 1813 should administer its 
temporalities and hold its property and revenues for the 
benefit of the corporation according to the discipline, 
rules and usages of the denomination to which the cor- 



By B. F. Fuller. 419 

poration belongs. (Laws 1875, pp. 79-84 ) This en- 
actment was preserved, and in terms extended by Chap- 
ter 176, of the laws of 1876. The plain purpose of these 
acts was to abrogate the rule which had the preceding 
construction given to the act of 1813 ? and to deprive the 
congregation, as Well as the trustees of the society, of the 
power afterwards to divert the church property from the 
promotion and dissemination of the religious views of the 
persons obtaining and acquiring it, to the promulgation 
and maintenance of any different system of religious be- 
lief. Instead of holding the property, subject simply to 
the disposition of the voting majority of the congrega- 
tion, the trustees were henceforward required to hold and 
devote it to the uses and purposes of the denomination 
of Christians in which the society should be included that 
obtained and acquired it. It was manifestly unjust to 
allow persons becoming members of a religious society, 
formed for the purpose of inculcating particular views, 
by their subsequent votes to appropriate the property they 
might have done nothing to acquire, to the promotion of 
views of an entirely different character from those en- 
tertained by the persons through whose contributions the 
property may have been obtained. This was the practical 
abuse which the laws of 1875-76 were designed in the 
future to prevent, and they are required to be so con- 
strued as to carry that policy into effect." 

To the same effect are First Eeformed Presbyterian 
Church vs. Bowden, 10 Abb., K C, 1; 14 Abb., K C, 
356 ; Field vs. Field, 9 Wend., 395. It thus appears that 
Perry vs. Tooker, supra, so confidently relied on for a 
rehearing, is no longer the law or authority, either in 
or out of the State of New York. 

Counsel for appellees cite and quote from First Bap- 
tist church, Witherell, 3 Paige, 296; 24 Am. Dec, 223, 
without definitely stating what point it is designed by 
it to support, the following passage : 

"All questions relating to the faith and practice of the 



420 History of Texas Baptists. 

church and its members belong to the church judicatories, 
to which they have voluntarily subjected themselves." 

If it is meant by this. to support the proposition that 
the majority, departing from the faith, can hold the prop- 
erty against 'the minority, adhering thereto, in case of a 
division, the answer is, that that case was one where the 
church was incorporated under the act of 1813, and, like 
Petty vs. Tooker, supra, was governed and controlled by 
that statute, and hence is no longer authority to the State 
of Xew York or elsewhere. But if it was intended to 
support the proposition that the action of the judicatories 
of the regular Baptist church are absolutely binding upon 
the courts, then it is against the appellees, because the 
undisputed evidence shows that three several judicatories 
of that denomination had decided that appellees had de- 
parted from the faith, as expressed in the Articles of 
Faith, adopted at the foundation of the church, though 
such decisions were only advisory. 

And now, having examined all the cases cited in sup- 
port of the proposition -that the majority of a divided 
church may repudiate the original faith and hold the 
property, and having shown that these cases lend no sup- 
port to such proposition whatever, and that there is no 
authority to that effect anywhere, we proceed to examine 
the third proposition, namely: Whether the appellants 
and those represented by them ceased to have any interest 
in the church property by their alleged expulsion from 
the church. The case last referred to, together with Law- 
ler vs. Cipperly, 7 Paige, 281, are 'both referred to as 
authority that appellants were no longer members of the 
church; but those cases do not lend any support to the 
proposition, nor to any proposition urged by counsel. The 
contention amounts to this: The church, becoming divid- 
ed into two factions on account of religious belief and 
faith, the majority being accused by a minority of de- 
parting from the original faith, they sit in judgment in 
their own case, and pass solemn judgment in their favor; 
that they, being a majority, and hence the church, had a 



By B. F. Fuller. 421 

right to change the faith, and hence are not guilty of the 
charge. Appellees assume the position that the majority 
had a right to act as the judicatory of themselves, and 
pass solemn judgment upon their own acts, and adjudge 
that they are not guilty of a departure from the faith, 
And they condemn and exclude the minority from the 
church, and thus seek to preclude the civil courts from 
inquiring into the charge against them. Xow they coolly 
ask this court that their action, while acting as judges 
in their own case, shall be conclusive, not only on the 
opposite party, but conclusive on the courts as well ; that 
the majority had not departed from the faith, and that 
the minority were out of the church, and could not raise 
the question of departure, and are not, and were not, 
members of the regular Baptist church of Mt. Tabor 
when the litigation began. This, too, in the teeth of 
the decision of three of the church judicatories to the 
contrary. The language employed by the Supreme Court 
of Iowa in the" case of Mount Zion Baptist Church vs. 
Whitmore. S3 Iowa, 13S ; 13 L. E. A., 198, referred to in 
the original opinion, is so much in point here that we 
appropriate it : 

''The minority lay at the door of the majority the 
charge of heresy. The majority say : "TVe constitute the 
church. All power is vested in the church, and hence in 
us. We determine that the charge is false.' This is the 
precise claim made by the appellees as to the power of a 
majority, and it is the precise action taken by the appel- 
lees as a majority in Mount Zion Baptist church, after 
which the council was called, the action of which it would 
now repudiate. The position leads to this : Consider the 
majority of a particular Baptist church as guilty of the 
grossest violations of. and the widest departure from, the 
church covenants and faith. Being accused by the minor- 
ity, the accused sit in judgment, which it declares in its 
favor, and then pleads the judgment it declares as con- 
clusive of its innocence, because no other man or body 
of men has authority to interfere. However such a rule 



422 History of Texas Baptists. 

may serve in purely ecclesiastical relations, we unhesitat- 
ingly say the civil law will not adhere to it, when the re- 
sult is to divert trust property from its proper channel.'*' 

This position of appellees at once assumes the truth of 
the very proposition that is in dispute, namely, the claim 
that the majority faction is the real and true Mt Tabor 
regular Baptist church. 

Having assumed that as a fact, they seek to prove it 
by showing that such majority has excluded the minority 
from the church, and then argue that appellants, being 
such excluded minority, cannot raise the question as to 
the title to the church property, elect trustees or dispute 
the claim of the majority that they are the crmrch. be- 
cause appellants, being such excommunicated minority, 
are no longer members of the church, and have no interest 
in the question as to who own the church property. The 
only thing that can rescue this claim from the charge of 
unmitigated assumption, pure and simple, is the conten- 
tion that a majority faction of a church, divided into 
two conflicting bodies on account of differences as to the 
standard of faith, is the real and true church. That con- 
tention, as we have seen, has no foundation in law or 
authority. To permit such majority, under such ground- 
less assumption, to exclude or excommunicate the minor- 
ity, who still adhere to the original faith, and claim to 
he the church, so as to affect property rights, would be a 
reproach to the law. It would be the law making the title 
to property turn upon a mere trick. Such action is vastly 
different from the action of the church in excommunicat- 
ing members before it had become divided into two con- 
flicting bodies on account of such differences in religious 
belief. The minority that succeeded in the Iowa case, 
referred to above, had been excluded from the church by 
the majority because of their difference in religious be- 
lief from the majority, and yet the claim of the minority, 
that it constituted the real Mount Zion Baptist church, 
was sustained by the Supreme Court of Iowa. There 
were three churches in Wisconsin. The denominational 



By B. F. Fuller. 423 

name by which they were known was "Koshkonoug's 
Lutheran Congregations in Dane and Jefferson»Coiinties." 
The three churches were served by one pastor. One was 
known by the name of the "Eastern Church;" another 
by the name of the "Western Church;"' and the other by 
the name of the "Liberty Prairie Church.'' The three 
churches in many things acted jointly in their business 
affairs. Each one of the congregations became divided 
on the doctrine of election. The different factions in 
each congregation became known as "Missourians" and 
"Anti-Missourians." In an action by one faction against 
the pastor representing the other, for the possession of 
the church property, the question of the validity of the 
exclusion of one faction by the other (being in the ma- 
jority) became involved in the case, being the case of 
West Koshkonoug Congregation vs. Ottesen, 80 Wis., 62, 
referred to in the original opinion. The court there said : 
"But it is here objected that even if a corporation was 
created by these proceedings, it was simply a corporation 
of the anti-Missourian faction, and did not represent nor 
succeed to the rights of the pre-existing voluntary organi- 
zation known as the 'Eastern Church;' in other words, 
that the anti-Missourian faction had not only seceded 
from, but had been expelled from the Eastern church, 
and consequently could form no corporation which would 
include or become the legal successor of the voluntary 
organization known as the Eastern church. This objec- 
tion demands careful consideration, because, if the anti- 
Missourians were not members of the Eastern congrega- 
tion, they could not give the notice required by 1990 Re- 
vised Statutes, nor execute the certificate required by the 
following section, which must be executed by members 
of the society. The. question is : Were the members of the 
anti-Missourian minority still members of the Eastern 
church? It is undeniably true that they were members 
of the church up to the time of the trouble in 1885 or 
188G. Have they lost their membership since that time? 
Now, if they have lost their membership, it must be in 



424 History of Texas Baptists. 

one of two ways — either by voluntary withdrawal or by 
expulsion. We cannot entertain for a moment the idea 
that the action of the Hissourian faction in the Eastern 
church in 1887, by which they attempted to declare the 
anti-Missourians as withdrawn or suspended from the 
church, has, in fact, affected the rights of the anti-Mis- 
sourians in the least.*' 

The same legal principle under like circumstances is 
distinctly recognized in Xance,vs. Busby, 91 Tenn., 317, 
15 L. E. A., 801. This is sufficient to dispose of all the 
cases counsel cite in support of the proposition that civil 
courts are not authorized to determine whether the church 
judicatories decided right or wrong, and hence cannot, in 
this case, determine whether the minority was wrongfully 
or rightfully expelled from the church. They quote from 
Shannon vs. Frost, supra, among others the following 
passage : 

"We must take the fact of expulsion as conclusive 
proof that the persons expelled are not now members of 
the repudiating church, for whether right or wrong the 
act of excommunication must, as to the fact of member- 
ship, be law to the court. For every judicial purpose in 
this case, therefore, we must consider the persons who 
were expelled by a vote of the church as no longer mem- 
bers of that church, or entitled to any rights or privileges 
incidental to or resulting from membership therein." 

Thev cite as sustaining this proposition: Chase vs. 
Chenny, 58 111., 509 ; 11 Am. Eep., 95 ; White Lick 
Quarterly Meeting of Friends, 89 Ind., 13G ; Lamb vs. 
Cain, 129 Ind., 486; 14 L. R. A., 518, and Bouldin vs. 
Alexander (82 U. S.), 15 Wall., 139; 21 L. Ed., 71. There 
is no question but that the proposition settled is thorough- 
ly settled. But it is equally true that in the case from 
which the proposition is quoted there was no question 
made, and none arose or existed in the case, as to the 
authority of those that performed the act or adopted the 
resolutions or order of expulsion. It was not denied that 
it was done by the church. There was no division of the 



By B. F. Fuller. 425 

church on account of differences in religious belief, and 
there was no division on any other account. Simply the 
church expelled seven members, and they, uniting with 
others, formed a new organization, and claimed the right 
to use the church house part of the time, contending that 
they had been wrongfully expelled, but did not deny that 
the church had expelled them. But here it is denied that 
the expulsion was by the church. We agree that no ju- 
dicial inquiry can be made as to whether the act of the 
church in expelling members is right or wrong, fair or un- 
fair, so long as such act is in harmony with the law of the 
church. Nor can any such inquiry be allowed as to 
whether the laws, usages, practice or faith of the church 
are right or wrong. That belongs to the exclusive prov- 
ince of the church, to fix order and establish it ; and when 
the church acts within its sphere or province, such act 
or acts are universally held binding and conclusive, not 
only upon the members of the church, but also upon the 
secular or civil courts, even where the rights of property 
are involved, and are dependent upon the action, rules 
or orders of the church. But it must be the act of the 
church, and not the act of persons who are not the 
church. In this case it was not denied that the church 
had become divided into two conflicting bodies; the 
minority charging that the majority had departed from 
the standard of faith set up at the foundation of the 
church, and that both factions were claiming to be the 
church, and both acting accordingly when the expulsion 
took place. The evidence shows that each faction, claim- 
ing to be the church, expelled the other. How absurd it 
is then to say, as counsel do in this case, that there can 
be no inquiry beyond the fact of expulsion to determine' 
whether appellants are still members of the church. 

Appellees' proposition is that appellants are not mem- 
bers, because they have been expelled by the church. It 
is not sufficient, to make good this claim, to prove the 
mere act of expulsion, because that proves only one part 
of the claim. The other part is that the act of expulsion 



426 History of Texas Baptists. 

was done by the church, not merely by persons claiming 
to he the church, but by those who were really and truly 
the church. If the evidence falls short of proving both 
parts of the claim, then the evidence does not prove the 
claim that appellants are not members of the church. 
It is conceded that they were members unless the church 
has expelled them. The evidence showing that there 
were two conflicting bodies, each made up of members 
of this church, and each claiming to be the only real and 
true Mt. Tabor regular Baptist church, and each of said 
bodies, having expelled all the members of the other from 
that church, as shown by the evidence, it inevitably fol- 
lows that the court must judicially investigate the ques- 
tion which of the two conflicting bodies is the real and 
true church before it can determine that anybody has 
been expelled therefrom and ceased to be a member or 
members thereof. When such investigation results in 
establishing that one of these bodies is the real church, 
that ends the whole controversy in this case without any 
inquiry about expulsions. That is so, because the ex- 
pulsions occurred after the division. 

Appellees" counsel, with tireless ingenuity, put the 
cart before the horse by first attempting to show that 
appellants were expelled in order to reach a resting 
ground for the claim that appellees and those represented 
by them are the church. But no rational man can say 
that either of the expulsions mentioned have changed the 
relations of either body to the church, unless such ex- 
pulsion was the act of the church. It was quite unneces- 
sary for appellees' counsel to resort to or rely on the act 
of expulsion, if their other oft-repeated claim was well 
founded, namely, that the majority of a church, divided 
on account of religious differences, is the church. It is 
conceded that the church was so divided, each of the two 
bodies claiming to be the only true and real Mt. Tabor 
regular Baptist church. Both claims cannot be admitted, 
hence judicial investigation must be resorted to to ascer- 
tain which is the true church, and expulsions, since 



By B. F. Fuller. 427 

separation, by either side, can throw no light upon that 
investigation. What is the touchstone that tests which 
of the conflicting claimants is the true Mt. Tabor regular 
Baptist church? This court, in White Lick Quarterly 
Meeting of Friends vs. White Lick Quarterly Meeting 
of Friends, in 89 Inch, 136, furnished an answer. It is 
there said: 

"The title to the property of a divided church is in 
that part of the organization which is acting in harmony 
with its own law; and the ecclesiastical laws, usages, cus- 
toms, privileges and practices, which were accepted and 
adopted by the church before the division took place, con- 
stitute the standard for determining which of the con- 
tending parties is in the right." (Watson vs. Jones, 
supra; McGinnis vs. Watson, 41 Pa., 9 ; Winebrenner vs. 
Golder, 43 Pa., 244; Schnorrs Appeal, 67 Pa., 138; 5 
Am. Pep., 415 ; Roshi's Appeal, 69 Pa., 462 ; 8 Am. Rep., 
275.) 

And again, in Lamb vs. Cain, 129 Ind., 510; 14 L. R. 
A.,. 518, this court further answered the question thus: 

"Where it is alleged in a cause properly pending that 
property thus dedicated is being diverted from the use in- 
tended by the donor by teaching a doctrine different from 
that contemplated at the time the donation was made, 
however difficult and delicate it may be, it is the duty of 
the court to inquire whether the party accused of violat- 
ing the trust is teaching a doctrine so far at variance with 
that intended as to defeat the object of the trust, and if 
the charge is found true, to make such orders in the 
premises as will secure a faithful execution of the trust 
confided.'' (Watson vs. Jones, supra; Miller vs. Gable, 
2 Denio, 492 ; Attorney General vs. Pearson, 3 Meriv., 
353; Watkins vs. Wilcox, 66 X. Y., 654; Attorney Gen- 
eral Abbott vs. Dublin, 38 X. II., 459 ; Happy vs. Mor- 
ton, 33 111., 398; Fadness vs. Braunborg, 73 Wis., 257.) 

The rule as stated by the Supreme Court of Illinois 
in Ferraria vs. Yaseoncellos, 31 111., 54-55, and recog- 
nized by a great many decisions in courts of last resort 
in other States, is as follows : 



428 History of Texas Baptists. 

"As a matter of law, as I understand the decisions, 
the rule is that where a church is erected for the use of 
a particular denomination or religious persuasion, a ma- 
jority of the members of the church cannot abandon the 
tenets and doctrines of the denomination and retain the 
right to the use of the property ; but secessionists forfeit 
all right to the property, even if but a single member 
adheres to the original faith and doctrine of the church. 
This rule is founded in reason and justice, and is not 
departed from in this case. Church property is rarely 
paid for by those alone who there worship, and those who 
contribute to its purchase or erection are presumed to do 
so with reference to a particular form of worship, or to 
promote the promulgation or teachings of particular 
doctrines or tenets of religion, which in their estimation 
tend most to the salvation of souls; and to pervert the 
property to another purpose is an injustice of the same 
character as the application of other trust property to 
purposes other than those designed by the donor. Hence 
it is that those who adhere to the original tenets and doc- 
trines for the promulgation of which a church has been 
erected, are the sole beneficiaries designed by the donors, 
and those who depart from and abandon these tenets and 
doctrines cease to be beneficiaries, and forfeit all claim to 
the title and use of such property. These are the prin- 
■ ciples on which all these decisions are founded, and so 
f long as we keep these principles distinctly in view we 
can have no great difficulty in applying them to the facts 
of each particular case." 

The same rule was stated by the Supreme Court of 
Iowa in Mount Zion Baptist church vs. W nitmore, supra, 
as follows : 

"Upon authority so general as to be beyond question, 
it is held that property given or set apart to a church or 
religious association for its use in the enjoyment and 
promulgation of its adopted faith and teachings, i> by 
said church or association held in trust for that purpose, 
and any member of the church or association, less than 
the whole, may not divert it therefrom." 



By B. F. Fuller. 429 

Accordingly it was said 'by Judge Sharswood, speak- 
ing for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in Schnorr's 
Appeal, 67 Pa., 138, 5 Am. Rep., 415, cited in the orig- 
inal opinion, that "in church organizations those who 
adhere and submit to the regular order of the church, 
* * * though a minority, are the true congregation 
and corporation, if incorporated." 

Chief Justice Shaw, speaking for the Supreme Court 
of Massachusetts, in a similar case (Stebbins vs. Jen- 
nings, 10 Pick., 181), said: 

"That an adhering minority of a local or territorial 
parish, and not a seceding majority, constitutes the 
church of such a parish to all civil purposes, was fully 
settled in Baker vs. Fales, 16 Mass., 503, and Deacons 
of First Church of Sandwich vs. Tilden, Id., note there 
cited." 

To the same effect in Roshi's Appeal, supra, and many 
other cases too numerous to cite. Therefore, it follows 
that if a minority were acting in harmony with the 
ecclesiastical laws of the church, and were adhering to 
the faith, and the majority were not, the minority, in 
law, were the real and true Mt. Tabor regular Baptist 
church. In one of the very cases relied on by the appel- 
lees' Counsel (Bouldin vs. Alexander, 82 U. S., 15 Wall., 
139-140, 21 L. Ed., 71-72), the Supreme Court of the 
United States said: 

"It may be conceded that we have no power to revise 
or question ordinary acts of church discipline or excision 
from membership. We have only to do with rights of 
property. As was said in Shannon vs. Frost, 3 B. Mon., 
253, we cannot decide who ought to be members of the 
church, nor whether the excommunicated have been reg- 
ularly or irregularly cut off. We must take the fact of 
excommunication as conclusive proof that the persons 
excluded are not members. But we may inquire whether 
the resolution of expulsion was the act of the church, or 
of persons who were not the church, and consequently 
had no right to excommunicate others/ 5 



430 History of Texas Baptists. 

It follows as conclusively as two and two make four 
that appellants and those acting with them did not cease 
to be members of the church by the act of the majority in 
expelling them, if we were right in the original opinion 
in holding that such majority had departed from 
the chosen faith declared in the Articles of 
Faith adopted at the foundation of the church, 
and were teaching doctrines thereto, because the unbroken 
line of judicial authority everywhere, as we have seen, 
declares the law to be, in such case, that such majority 
were not the real and true MX. Tabor regular Baptist 
church, and could not expel anybody from it; but that 
the minority, represented by the appellants, were that 
church, because they were acting, as we have held, in 
accordance with the law of the church, in adhering to 
the faith and teaching the doctrines expressed in such 
Articles of Faith. 

[A portion of the latter part of the opinion, not being 
directly on the subject of inquiry in this chapter, is 
omitted here.] 

This decision of the Supreme Court of Indiana cov- 
ered the whole ground of ownership of church property 
where there is a division in the church, and showed so 
clearly, by the great array of authority from courts every- 
where, that the question seemed to be settled. In the 
language of that opinion, that "Xo principle is better set- 
tled than that property conveyed to trustees for the use 
of a church by its denominational name, as was the case 
here, creates a trust for the promulgation of the tenets 
and doctrines of that denomination," and that the civil 
courts will enforce that trust in favor of a minority ad- 
hering to the original faith on which the church was 
founded against a majority departing from it. 



By B. F. Fuller. 431 

No case had come before the courts of Texas, but it 
was not doubted that our Supreme Court would sustain 
this reasonable and equitable view. Resting in this con- 
fidence, three suits were afterwards brought in this State, 
involving these questions. The first of these cases re- 
sulted from a division in the Christian church at Mc- 
Greggor. As this church is independent in church gov- 
ernment, like Baptist churches, the case attracted general 
interest among Baptists. The McGreggor church be- 
came divided, into two factions, known as the Firm Foun- 
dation faction and the Progressives. The Firm Founda- 
tion party was in the majority, and took exclusive posses- 
sion of the house of worship, and refused to allow the use 
of the house by the Progressives for any purpose. Suit 
was then brought in the District Court of McLennan 
county by the Progressives, who were greatly in the minor- 
ity, to recover the house, claiming to be the real, true Mc- 
Greggor Christian church, because they stood upon the 
original faith and doctrines of that church, and that the 
majority had departed therefrom, and thereby forfeited 
all right to the possession of the property. On the trial 
of the case before Judge Surratt, the District Judge, no 
jury being demanded by either side, the whole question 
of fact, as well as of law, was submitted to the court. 
After stating his findings of facts in the case, Judge Sur- 
ratt announced his conclusions of law as follows : 

"The courts of this country have no power to de- 
termine for religious bodies ecclesiastical or doctrinal 
questions, and they have never evinced a disposition to 
invade that domain, and will only inquire into such ques- 
tions when property rights become involved and are the 
subject of litigation, and then only so far as to determine 



-±32 History of Texas Baptists. 

those rights. It is a rule of law that when property has 
become dedicated to the support of some specific form of 
religious doctrine it becomes a trust and the courts will 
hear evidence and determine what that doctrine is, re- 
gardless of its ecclesiastical or denominational bearing, in 
order to ascertain the trust, and having so found will 
enforce the trust, and not permit it to be diverted to other 
and different doctrinal purposes. And it is the duty of 
the court to decide in favor of those, whether a minority 
or a majority of a congregation, who are adhering to the 
doctrines professed by the congregation and the form 
of worship in practice at the time the trust became fixed. 

"In this case the members of the Christian church of 
McGreggor purchased the lots in question and paid there- 
for, and for the church edifice thereon, from donations by 
the said members and their friends, and procured a con- 
veyance of said lots to certain trustees named for said 
Christian church, and it thereby became immediately 
dedicated to the principles and doctrines maintained by 
said church at that time: and, though a majority of its 
members may have changed their views on these sub- 
jects, or others become members who never entertained 
them, yet the indelible stamp of the original doctrines 
has been placed upon the property, and it is held as a 
trust for the use of those members who still adhere there- 
to, however much in the minority, and those having con- 
trol of the property will not be permitted to apply it to 
the promotion of doctrines not consistent with the funda- 
mental doctrines of the church at the time> and for the 
benefit of which the trust was created. 

"The property was purchased and improved as shown 
by the testimony of the only two original members ex- 
amined, and who are not contradicted by those who, as 
a church or religious society, hold to the doctrines and 
teachings of that branch or faction, now termed the 
'Progressive' faction. The evidence shows that the Chris- 
tian church at large, including that at McGreggor, at 
the time this property was acquired and improved, was 



By B. F. Fuller. 433 

based upon a broad, catholic principle, that all persons 
who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the 
Savior of men, and who have been baptized by immersion 
upon a profession of that faith, are Christians, and en- 
titled to membership in their church, whether baptized 
into the Baptist, Methodist or other Christian denomi- 
nations, and regardless of their views as to the design 
of Christian baptism, or whether they were baptized f for 
the remission of sins' or 'because of the remission of 
sins/ and exercising towards and permitting the exercise 
by its members of the utmost liberty of thought upon 
other doctrinal questions and action in the advancement 
and dissemination of this fundamental doctrine through 
missionary and other auxiliary societies. 

"This church believed and taught that baptism is for 
the remission of sins, the same as the 'Firm Foundation 7 
faction now believes, but this belief was not made a sine 
qua non to church fellowship, the same liberality of be- 
lief being allowed upon this as upon other doctrinal sub- 
jects. The Firm Foundation faction, as shown by the 
evidence, held that without this belief, and it entertained 
understandingly at the time of baptism, no person can 
become a Christian and be entitled to fellowship in the 
Christian church, and that all missionary and other 
auxiliary societies are deemed sinful, and any member 
who believes otherwise and joins such societies is deemed 
to be in sin, and is liable to expulsion therefor. The 
church at McG-reggor, since passing into the hands of the 
Firm Foundation party has never expelled any of its mem- 
bers who belong to such societies, but the evidence shows 
that such were considered by the ruling faction to have 
sinned by so joining, and to remain in sin so long as 
adhering to such societies, and they were not expelled 
through mere indulgence of the church in violatiion of ite 
principles, and were liable to expulsion should they re- 
main members thereof, all such societies being held sinful 
in practice, violative of church doctrine, and forbidden 
to meet in the church building. 



434 History of Texas Baptists. 

"In the opinion of this court the differences in the 
fundamental principles, doctrine and practices between 
these two factions of the McGreggor church, are radical 
and irreconcilable.. and the doctrines and practices of the 
defendants, who are in possession of the church property, 
are at wide variance to, and are largely subversive of, the 
fundamental practices of said church at the time the 
property in dispute was dedicated to its support ; and the 
trust imposed by such dedication has been and is being 
diverted from the purposes intended by the founders of 
such trust, and the plaintiff corporation is composed of 
those members of said church who adhere to the specific 
form of religious doctrines, in principle and practice, to 
the support of which said property was dedicated, and 
is entitled to recover the possession thereof, and it is so 
ordered. 

"Marshall Scrratt, 
"Judge Nineteenth Judicial District of Texas." 

The majority appealed from this decision to the Court 
of Civil Appeals at Austin. This court affirmed the 
judgment of the District Judge in the following opinion : 

"The evidence fully supports the foregoing findings 
of fact, which we adopt: and the trial court's conclusions 
of law, as recited above, upon the controlling questions 
in the case, are so entirely satisfactory and so clearly and 
tersely stated that we adopt them also. There arc some 
other minor questions presented in appellants' brief, but 
they are not of such importance as to require elaborate 
consideration here. TVe do not agree with appellants 
upon any of the grounds assigned for a reversal of the 
judgment, and it will therefore be affirmed. 

"Key, 
"Associate Justice." 

There was an application to our Supreme Court for a 
writ of error to remove the case to that court for revision. 



By B. F. Fuller. 435 

After consideration tins application was refused by that 
court in April. IS 99. win eh finally disposed of the c 
thus making the judgment the law in our State agreeing 
in every essential particular with other conrts everywhere 
else, as shown in the opinion in the l\ft Tabor regular 
Baptist* church case, already quoted. 

T::e second case in our State involving the proposition 
under consideration was that of the Wallis Baptist church 
at Wallis, Austin county. This church divided on AEar- 
tinism. which has been explained in a previous chaj 
Rev. T. C. Saunders was pastor of this church in 1895, 
and had espoused this doctrine. When the General Con- 
vention at Belton adopted resolutions denning Martin- 
ism, and declaring it to be a departure from Baptist prin- 
ciples and faith. Pastor Saunders withdrew from the 
Convention and denounced its action. A majority of the 
church sustained him. and eventually excluded the minor- 
ity, who opposed this action. A council was called by the 
excluded members. This council decided that the ex- 
pelled minority constituted the real and true Baptist 
church of Wallis. The minority then brought suit in the 
District Court for the possession of the church property, 
on the ground that the majority had abandoned Baptist 
doctrine and the original faith of the church, and had 
thereby forfeited all rightful claim to be recognized as 

Wallis Baptist church, and all right to the possession 
of the property. 

On the trial of the case in the District Court there 
seems to have been nothing presented to prove that Mar- 
tinism was a departure from Baptist faith, except the 

lutiona of the General Convention: and to show the 
majority had gone into Martinism, plaintiffs depended 



436 History of Texas Baptists. 

entirely upon the action of the council. The}' rested upon 
the assumption that the finding of the council was con- 
clusive, because the Association with which the church 
was affiliated had a clause in its constitution to the effect 
that "should a difference in doctrine arise in any church 
of the Association the matter should be adjusted by a 
council." This case was submitted to Judge Teichmuller, 
the District Judge, presiding. He held that as the action 
of both the Convention and council were only advisory 
as to the church, the proof was not sufficient to establish 
either of the propositions referred to; therefore the real 
issue, namely, who was entitled to the possession of the 
property, was not considered by the court. 

In rendering judgment against the minority, however, 
the court admitted the general proposition, in harmony 
with all other courts, in the following clause: 

"Trustees who hold property for the benefit of a 
church organization are subject to the control of courts 
of equity, in order to prevent the diversion of such trust 
to purposes incompatible with the purposes for which the 
trusts were created." 

The case was taken on appeal to the Court of Civil 
Appeals at Galveston. As the record contained no state- 
ment of any other evidence before the trial eourt, nothing 
could be done but sustain the judgment of that court, on 
the ground that the action of the General Convention 
and the conclusion of the council were not of binding 
force upon the church, and did not furnish sufficient proof 
that the majority of Wallis Baptist church had adopted 
Martinism. The real question, therefore, involving the 
ownership of the church property never came directly in 
review before that court. 



By B. F. Fuller. 437 

Baptist churches in Texas, as well as those of other 
denominations having a similar form of church govern- 
ment, were now beginning to feel secure in the possession 
of their houses of worship that had been dedicated to the 
support, maintenance and propagation of the principles 
and faith they believed in and held dear. Up to this 
time our State courts had manifested no disposition to 
abandon the almost universal authority of other courts, 
but, so far as the question under consideration had come 
under review, they had strictly adhered to the same prin- 
ciples of equity, sustained by other courts everywhere. 
It now seemed to be settled that the law in this State will 
protect such trust property in the hands of those adher- 
ing to the true faith of the church, as it existed at its 
foundation, and prevent it from being diverted to the 
support and dissemination of a contrary doctrine. Under 
this feeling of security Baptist churches in Texas were 
investing large sums in building costly church edifices, 
frequently ornamenting them with memorials of those 
pillars of the church who had gone to their reward, whose 
memory they wished to preserve as exemplars of the true 
Baptist faith. But all this confident security was 
destined soon to be dashed to the ground. 

On the 15th day of January, 1900, our Supreme 
Court, in an elaborate opinion by Justice T. J. Brown, 
handed down a decision which put a new aspect on the 
whole question of the ownership of church property in 
Texas. This was in the case of the First Baptist church 
of Paris, Texas. This church had divided on Fortunism, 
which has been explained in a previous chapter. A large 
majority of the church followed Fortune in his heresy, 
which is the grossest and most radical departure that Bap- 



438 History of Texas Baptists. 

tist churches in Texas have ever encountered. This de- 
cision upset all sense of security. It is in direct and ad- 
mitted conflict with the decisions of other courts, and 
chaos now reigns in Texas on the subject under consid- 
eration in this chapter. A sense of uncertainty and in- 
security among religious bodies is felt throughout the 
State. 

This is a case of such general interest to our churches, 
arid so important in its bearing on the ownership of 
church property in this State, that the entire opinion is 
given here. The nature of the case and the issues in- 
volved will sufficiently appear from the decision itself, 
which is as follows: 

"First Baptist Church et al. vs. Fort et al. (Supreme 
m Court of Texas, January 15, 1900.) 

"Religious Societies. — Church Property. — Possession. 
— Trust for Support of Certain Creed. — Foreclosure of 
Trust Deed. 

"1. Where land is donated to a church organized un- 
der articles of faith, and having no ecclesiastical superior, 
and the church building erected thereon was paid for by 
subscription from members and others, and there is no 
trust imposed on the property, either by the donations 
or subscriptions, that it should be used for the propaga- 
tion and support of such articles of faith, the courts will 
not imply such a trust for the purpose of expelling from 
its use those who, by regular succession and order, con- 
stitute the church, though they have changed in some re- 
spects the articles of faith. 

"2. Where a church is organized as a corporation un- 
der the laws of the State, and has no ecclesiastical su- 
perior, the minority of its members cannot, after forming 
another organization, because the majority have aban- 
doned the original articles of faith, obtain possession of 
the property. 



By B. F. Fuller. 43# 

"3. A judgment foreclosing a trust deed on church 
property cannot be entered in a suit between different 
factions of the church for the possession of the property, 
where neither party sought a foreclosure of the trust deed 
nor a sale of the property, and the society holding the title 
was not a party to the proceeding."' , 

"Error to Court of Civil Appeals of Fifth Supreme i 
Judicial District. ' 

"Action by First Baptist church of Paris and others 
against J. M. Fort and others. From a judgment of the 
Court of Civil Appeals reversing the judgment of the 
Circuit Court in favor of plaintiffs, and ordering the 
property sold under foreclosure, plaintiffs bring error. 
Modified. 

"W. S. Moore and Dudley & Dudley for plaintiffs in 
error. 

"Hale & Hale, Denton & Long and Dudley G. Wooten 
for defendants in error." 

Brown, J. — The First Baptist church of Paris, joined 
by B. F. Fuller, Stewart Lee, S. H. Webb. W. F. Ed- 
wards, J. C. Hunt, E. M. Miller and J. B. Johnson, who 
sue as trustees of said church, and in their own right as 
members thereof, instituted this suit in the District Court 
of Lamar county against J. M. Fort, B. W. Lewis, S. B. 
M, Long, Mrs. M. C. Maxey, F. I. Williams, T. S. Pres- 
ton, M. C. Spivey, G. M. Fortune, and the executors and 
heirs of Mrs. Emily Williams, deceased, naming them. 
Plaintiffs sought to recover possession of certain church 
property, consisting of the building and lot located in 
the city of Paris, Lamar county, Texas, and to cancel 
certain conveyances named therein, and to restrain the 
defendants from interfering with plaintiffs' possession of 
the church property. The petition sets up the facts with 
regard to the original organization of the church, the 
building of the house upon the lot acquired for that pur- 
pose, and the facts and circumstances which brought 
about a division among the members of said church; 



440 History of Texas Baptists. 

charging that the defendants and their adherents, a ma- 
jority of the members, had departed from the original 
Confession of Faith adopted by the church in 
its organization, and had diverted said property 
from the purposes to which it was dedicated, 
and that the plaintiffs and those represented 
by them, a minority of said congregation, had ad- 
hered to the original confession of faith, and were, in 
fact, the First Baptist church of Paris, and entitled to the 
possession of said property. The case was tried before 
the court without a jury, and the following conclusions 
of facts were filed, upon which judgment was entered for 
plaintiffs below : 

"1. The court finds that this church was originally 
organized in about the year 1854, under the name of the 
'United Baptist Church/ and adopted as its articles of 
faith and covenant the articles of faith and covenant in- 
troduced in evidence, known as the f New Hampshire 
Confession of Faith." 

"2. The court finds that on the 10th day of April, 
1SG1, the lot in controversy, upon which a church build- 
ing had been erected, was deeded to Lemuel H. Williams, 
Goodman Tucker and Hardy Moore, trustees of said 
church, under and by the name of Paris Baptist church, 
to have and to hold under them and their successors as 
a place of worship for said Paris Baptist church, and 
said church and the members thereof continued to hold 
religious worship on said lot and in said church building 
under the name of the Paris Baptist church, and upon the 
articles of faith and covenant upon which it was orig- 
inally organized, until it became incorporated on the 21st 
of March, 1890. under the general incorporation laws of 
Texas, when it was incorporated under the name of the 
'First Baptist Church of Paris,' and afterwards erected 
upon said lot their present church building, at a cost of 
about $20,000; that in order to complete said building 
of church, the said First Baptist church of Paris bor- 
rowed of one S. D. Crittenden the sum of $5,000, and 



By B. F. Fuller. 441 

executed by and through some of its trustees a note for 
said amount and a deed of trust or mortgage on said 
church property to secure the payment of the same. 

"3. The court finds that the trustees of the said 
First Baptist church of Paris named in its charter were 
U. Hearon, F. I. Williams, B. F. Fuller, Stewart Lee, 
Samuel H. Webb, T. S. Preston and Ira Webster; that 
said mortgage or deed of trust was executed to M: C. 
Spivey, trustee, by B. F. Fuller, T. S. Preston, Stewart 
Lee and W. F. Edwards, as trustees of said First Baptist 
church of Paris; that said W. F. Edwards had been 
elected trustee by said church to fill a vacancy caused by 
the resignation of 17. Hearon. 

"4c. The court finds that the First Baptist church of 
Paris had power to mortgage said property, but that the 
said deed of trust was invalid, because not executed as 
required by the statutes of Texas, under the seal of the 
corporation, and for the further reason that said deed 
of trust was executed without having been authorized by 
a majority of said church, voting in regular session, as 
provided by its charter ; but, however, the court finds that 
the said First Baptist church of Paris is estopped from 
denying the validity of said deed of trust, because it ob- 
tained the money and used the same in the completion 
of its church on the faith of said deed of trust, and after- 
wards ratified the same, and by bidding the property in 
at the sale under said deed of trust. 

"5. That said church, from its original organization 
up to about the time of the completion of its church build- 
ing in 1895, continued to worship and hold religious 
services upon the articles of fairh and church covenant 
upon which it was organized, when dissensions arose 
among the members of said church over the teachings and 
preaching of its then pastor, one G-. M. Fortune : that said 
Fortune, by hi& preaching and published sermons and 
articles, denied the full inspiration of the Scriptures, and 
denied and repudiated the vicarious atonement of Christ 
for sinners, and denied that Christ died for and instead 



442 History of Texas Baptists. 

of sinners and became their substitute, and denied that 
Christ's righteousness was imputed to the righteous; all 
of which was contrary to the doctrines and teachings of 
the Baptist church, and contrary to the articles of faith 
upon which this church was organized, and had continued 
to worship since its organization. 

"6. The court finds: That at the time said dissen- 
sions arose the membership of the First Baptist church of 
Paris was about four hundred ; that said dissensions con- 
tinued to grow until the church was divided into two 
factions, one faction adhering to the doctrines, teachings 
and preachings of said G. M . Fortune, and the other fac- 
tion standing by and adhering to the doctrines of the 
Baptist church and the articles of faith upon which the 
church was organized; that the faction which adhered 
to the original articles of faith and the doctrines and 
teachings of the Baptist church, which faction is, for 
convenience, hereinafter styled the f anti-Fortunites,' 
strenuously opposed the re-employment of said Fortune 
as pastor of said church, and, after he was employed, in- 
sisted upon his resignation because of his doctrines; but 
at the several meetings when these matters came up and 
were discussed and passed upon, the faction which ad- 
hered to the doctrines of said Fortune, which faction is 
hereinafter styled for convenience the 'Fortunites,' had 
a majority of the members present and voting, and re- 
fused to request the resignation of said Fortune, and re- 
fused to accept his resignation when offered by him, and 
re-employed him as pastor for an indefinite length of 
time. That some time in the month of July, 1896, said 
Fortune tendered his resignation as pastor of the First 
Baptist church of Paris, which was accepted by the For- 
tunites, and that about the 30th of August, 1896, said- 
Fortune rented a hall in the city of Paris and delivered 
therein a series of sermons and lectures in opposition 
and criticism of the creed of the Baptist church, which 
were attended by his adherents. That during this time 
the anti-Fortunites continued to meet and hold service? 



By B. F. Fuller. US 

and Sunday-school in the First Baptist church building 
until the Sunday next preceding the 6th day of October, 
1896, when the church doors were locked and the win- 
dows barred by the Fortunites. 

"7. The court finds that on the 30th of September, 
1896, the anti-Fortunites, representing and acting as the 
First Baptist church of Paris, met in church session at 
the church building, and elected the following persons, 
members of said church, to fill vacancies in its Board of 
Trustees, to-wit: J. C. Hunt, J. B. Johnson. R. M. Miller 
and George T. Saunders (which last-named trustee sub- 
sequently resigned), and by resolution authorized and 
directed said trustees to borrow money and pay off said 
indebtedness to said S. D. Crittenden, or buy said church 
property at the sale under the deed of trust, which was 
then advertised for October 6, 1896, for the said First 
Baptist church of Paris, and to do anything else that in 
their judgment might be necessary for the interest of 
said church. 

"8. That on the 6th of October, 1896, and before the 
sale under the aforesaid deed of trust, the said trustees 
of the First Baptist church of Paris, acting for said 
church, procured the money and offered to pay to M. C. 
Spivey, trustee in the deed of trust, the full amount of 
the note, principal and interest, and commission if any, 
if he would transfer to them the note and mortgage, or 
deliver to them said note and mortgage without transfer, 
which offer was refused by the said Spivey, and the 
church property was put up and offered for sale by the 
said trustee (Spivey) under the deed of trust at public 
outcry to the highest bidder for cash ; and the plaintiffs' 
trustees, the said trustees of the First Baptist church, for 
and on behalf of said church, being the highest and best 
bidder, the property was knocked off to them for the 
sum of $10,050, and thereupon said trustees of the First 
Baptist church of Paris, for and on behalf of said church, 
tendered to said Trustee Spivey in cash the full amount 
of the Crittenden note, secured by the deed of trust, prin- 



444 History ; - 1 s Baptists. 

eipal and interest, cost and commission if any, amount- 
ing to $5,378, and a receipt signed by them as trustees 
of the First Baptist church of Paris for the balance of 
the bid over and above the said note, principal, interest 
and commissions: and that thereupon, at the instance of 
and upon demand made by T. S. Preston and F. I. Will- 
iams, two of the charter trustees of the First Baptist 
church, and adherents of Fortune, that he. the said 
S ey. require payment of the whole amount of - 
bid of $10,050 in cash, and that if not so paid, Spivey 
resell said property, he, the said Spivey. refused the said 
tender, and proceeded to resell said property, which sec- 
ond sale was forbidden by said trns Bap- 
church of Paris. A: said second sale J. M. Fort. F. 
1. Williams, B. W. L is, S. B. M. Long, Mrs. Emily 
Williams a: I. 0. Maxey became the purchasers 
at the sum - •> being less than the amount of the 
Crittenden note, which was credited thereon by the said 
. and said Spivey made them a deed to the church 

The court finds that before the sale of said 
church property by the said Spivey. and before the Crit- 
tenden note became due, the said purchasers under the 
-ale had bought up the Crittenden note, and the 
sale by Spivey was directed by theni, and the said pur- 
T chasers were all members of the said First Baptist church 
J (some of them trustees) and adherents of Fortune: that 
- s -on as the aforesaid defendants bought in said church 
property, and got a deed to it from said Trusts 9 
the was died back to preach in said 

church by the Fortunites as a supply, and continued to 
preach in said church until about the 25th of July, 
and the anti-Fortunites, or the adherents of the original 
articles of faith, were thereby excluded from holding 
services in said church building under the teachings and 
instructions of a pastor of the original Baptist faith: and 
e their exclusion have he 1 5 Wore! ip as the 

- church of Paris in the Aiken Institute and 
Meyer's Hall. 



By B. F. Fuller. 445 

"10. The court finds that the faction of the church 
styled the anti-Fortunites. and who adhered to the arti- 
cles of faith upon which the church was organized, and 
the doctrines and teachings of the Baptist church, were 
and are the First Baptist church of Paris, and that the 
plaintiffs* trustees were and are the legal trustees of said 
First Baptist church of Paris, and that they acted for the 
said First Baptist church of Paris in trying to save the 
church property and trying to secure it for said church 
at trustee's sale; and that the said purchasers of said 
property at the second sale by Spivey were acting for 
themselves* and not trying to secure said church property, 
and were not acting for the said First Baptist church of 
Paris." 

The case of the plaintiffs in error depends upon the 
correctness of the following proposition, submitted as the 
first assignment of error in this court : 

"The Court of Civil Appeals erred in holding that 
the church property in controversy was not trust property, 
because, when the property was acquired by the church 
under its then name. 'Paris Baptist Church.'* the title was 
vested in three trustees and their successors for the sole 
and exclusive use of said church as a place of worship. 
The property thus acquired by denominational name be- 
came a trust for the promulgation of the tenets and doc- 
trines of that particular denomination, without any spe- 
cific declaration of the particular doctrines and teachings 
that should be taught or advanced. Moreover, the evi- 
dence in the record and the findings of the trial Judge 
show exclusively the fundamental doctrines of the Bap- 
tist denomination on the subject of the vicarious atone- 
ment of Christ for sinners, and the full inspiration of 
the Scriptures, and -that this church had been organized 
upon these doctrines, set forth at the time the church 
property was acquired/*' 

The findings of fact and the undisputed evidence es- 
tablish that on -the 10th day of April, 1861, there was in 
existence in the city of Paris. Texas, a church known as 



446 History of Texas Baptists. 

the "Paris Baptist Church," to which Milton Webb. X. 
W. Towns and T. C. Poindexter on that day conveyed the 
lot, on which the church house in question is situated, by 
a deed made and delivered to "Lemuel H. Williams, 
Hardy Moore and Goodman Tucker, trustees of the Paris 
Baptist church, and their successors, for the use of the 
5 said Paris Baptist church." The deed contained the fol- 
I lowing habendum clause : 

"To have and to hold unto the said L. H. Williams. 
Hardy Moore and Goodman Tucker and their successors 
for the sole and exclusive use and benefit of the said Paris 
Baptist church." 

At its organization, and before the making of this 
deed, the church had adopted what is known as the c *Xew 
Hampshire Articles of Faith." A church building was 
erected upon the said lot. and paid for by subscriptions 
from the members of the church and others. There is 
nothing to show that any subscriber attached any con- 
dition to his subscription, or prescribed any terms upon 
which it should be used. The Paris Baptist church was 
an independent body, having no ecclesiastical superior, 
and might have organized by adopting the Philadelphia 
Confession of Faith, or might have had its Articles of 
Faith written out to suit the members: or might have 
•_ anized without adopting a declaration of faith. The 
Bible is received as the creed of a Baptist church, 
whether any be adopted or not. It is claimed by the 
plaintiffs that upon the conveyance of the lot to trustees 
for the use and benefit of the Paris Baptist church there 
was attached to the property a trust that it should be used 
for the propagation and support of the faith professed 
by that church and expressed in the Articles of Faith 
adopted by it before the conveyance was made and then 
in force ; and that the minority, which adhered to the 
Articles of Faith adopted by the church at its organiza- 
tion, constitute the Baptist church of Paris, for the use 
of which the lot was conveyed — now the First Baptist 
church of Paris. In support of the proposition, plaintiffs 



By B. F. Fuller. 447 

cite the following cases: Hale vs. Everett, 53 1ST. H., 71; 
16 Am. Rep., 118; Blanc vs. Alsbury, 63 Tex., 489; 
Smith vs. Pedigo (Ind. Sup.), 33 N. E., 777; 44 N. E., 
363; 32 L. E. A., 844; Miller vs. Gable, 2 Denio., 492; 
Ferraria vs. Yasconcellos, 31 111., 54; Bowen vs. Mc- 
Leod, 1 Edw. Ch., 588 ; Morville vs. Fowle, 144 Mass., 
109; 10 K E., 766. Smith vs. Pedigo, supra, and Bap- 
tist Church vs. Whitmore (Iowa), 49 N. W., 81. 13 L. R. 
A., 198, sustain the judgment of the trial court in this 
case. Both cases practically hold that a church, independ- 
ent of any other organization, may adopt a confession of 
faith by a majority vote, which will bind them and all 
members who may unite with them thereafter; and that 
no change can be made except by the unanimous consent 
of the entire membership. The reasoning by which this 
conclusion is reached is not satisfactory to us. In Hale 
vs. Everett, 53 N". H., 9, the court uses language broad 
enough to cover all that is claimed by the plaintiffs, but 
the point decided is against them. The learned Judge 
who wrote that opinion took a wide field for discussion, 
and most of the propositions discussed are irrelevant to 
the issue before that court. In that case a society had 
been organized by the name of the "First Unitarian So- 
ciety of Christians in Dover.'' The majority had or- 
ganized another church, and were not in any sense the 
beneficiaries named in the deed. The court held that the 
use of the term "Unitarian Christians'' necessarily ex- 
cluded any organization or church that promulgated doc- 
trines which denied the divinity of Christ, and upon the 
two grounds, that the majority were not Christians and 
had organized another body, they were denied the right 
to hold under the deed. 

The opinion of the court in the case of Ferraria vs. 
Vasconcellos, 31 111., 25, does not support the propo- 
sition to which it is cited. It, in fact, denies nothing ex- 
cept that both factions had the right to do as they did, 
and decreed a division of the property. Chief Justice 
Caton, however, delivered a separate opinion, in which 



448 History of Texas Baptists. 

he broadly lays down the proposition contended for by 
plaintiffs, in the following terms: 

"Church property is rarely paid for by those alone 
who worship there, and those who contribute to its pur- 
chase or erection are presumed to do so with reference to 
a particular form of worship, or to promote the promul- 
gation or teachings of particular doctrines or tenets of 
religion which, in their estimation, tend most to the sal- 
vation of souls ; and to pervert the property to another 
purpose is an injustice of the same character as the ap- 
plication of other trust property to purposes other than 
those designed by the donor/' 

We think it is correctly assumed, as a matter of com- 
mon knowledge, that in this country houses for religious 
worship are usually built by subscription, not confined to 
the membership of the particular church or denomination, 
but, in fact, members of all denominations, as well as 
those who belong to no church contribute freely to the 
erection of such buildings. Upon this fact is based the 
presumption asserted by Judge Caton, that each donor 
contributes with the distinct purpose that the house shall 
be dedicated to the propagation of the faith then pro- 
fessed by the congregation for which the structure is to 
l)f built. Out of the facts presumed springs the asserted 
t rust relation between the donor and the church. It is 
imt claimed that a congregation of Baptists, who organize 
themselves into an independent church and adopt articles 
of faith by a majority vote, thereby bind themselves to 
adhere to the articles so adopted for all time. If, how- 
ever, they should afterward take up a subscription for 
the purpose of building a house of worship, or receive 
donations of a lot under the doctrine asserted by plain- 
tiffs, the articles already adopted would become immuta- 
ble, and the church be deprived of the power to change 
or modify that declaration, for beneficiaries cannot abolish 
a trust without consent of the donor, though they be 
unanimous in the wish. If the proposition be sound, it 
results that, before buying the lot or building the church 



By B. F. Fuller. 4Ad 

for the Paris Baptist church, a majority of that congre- 
gation could have abolished the Xew Hampshire Confes- 
sion of Faith, and could have adopted the Philadelphia 
Confession, or could have substituted a confession drafted 
by themselves; or they might have abolished all articles 
of faith, and have relied upon the Bible alone as their 
creed. But when the deed was made to the lot and the ; 
house built by subscription, the right to change or repeal j 
the Articles of Faith was taken away from the congre- 
gation, and to change it would not only forfeit their 
rights in the property, but would deprive them absolutely 
of their membership and good standing in the church, 
which, to a Christian, is of greater value than houses or 
lands. The presumption involves the absurdity that a 
Methodist, who contributed to the building of the house 
of worship for the Paris Baptist church, did so for the 
express purpose of perpetuating and promulgating the 
doctrine that immersion alone is baptism, and that in- 
fants are excluded from the rights of the church. The 
contributing Jew — they are not few — is presumed to be 
especially anxious that the Messiahship of Christ should 
be taught, though the failure to believe it cast down his 
temple and broke down the walls of his holy city, making 
his people wanderers upon the earth. If the majority 
of such a congregation should be converted to the belief 
that sprinkling is valid baptism, and so change their 
teachings and practice, the Methodist brother who aided . 
to build the house could interfere and say: "Xo, you 
must teach immersion as the only valid mode, because 
my gift was based upon your continuance in teaching 
that error."' Or, if the majority should abandon their 
faith in Christ as the Messiah and change their teachings, 
as did the Unitarians in Hale vs. Everett, the Jew con- 
tributor could say: "Xay, you must not abandon your 
doctrine, because my donation binds you to teach the 
divinity of Christ, although false in fact." 

If a member of another Baptist church, which adopted 
the Philadelphia Confession, contributed, he might enjoin 



450 History of Texas Baptists. 

the church at Paris from abolishing the existing articles 
and adopting those which his own church indorsed. The 
soundness of the teachings is not involved in the propo- 
sition. Error is perpetuated the same as truth. Courts 
cannot decide between conflicting opinions upon the theo- 
logical questions. The fallacy lies in presuming the ex- 
istence of a purpose of which there is no proof, and in 
binding the minds and consciences of men by the pre- 
sumed secret intention of those persons who aid such en- 
terprises. 

In the case of Watson vs. Jones, 13 Wall., 679, 20 L. 
Ed., 666, Justice Miller, in a very clear opinion, brought 
order out of the chaos which reigned among the decisions 
upon this subject, and expressed the true doctrine in the 
following manner: 

"The questions which have come before the civil 
courts concerning the rights to property held by ecclesi- 
astical bodies may, so far as we have been able to examine 
them, be properly classified under three general heads, 
which, of course, do not include cases governed by con- 
siderations applicable to a church established and sup- 
ported by law as the religion of the State: (1) The first 
of these is when the property which is the subject of 
controversy has been, by the deed or will of the donor, or 
other instrument by which the property is held by the ex- 
press terms of the instrument devoted to the teaching, 
support or spread of some specific form of religious doc- 
trine or belief. (2) The second is when the property is 
held by a religious congregation which, by the nature of 
its organization, is strictly independent of other ecclesi- 
astical associations, and so far as church government is 
concerned, owes no fealty or obligation to any higher 
authority. (3) The third is when a religious congre- 
gation or ecclesiastical body holding the property is but 
a subordinate member of some general church organiza- 
tion in which there are superior ecclesiastical tribunals* 
with a general and ultimate power of control more or 
less complete in some supreme judiciary over the whole 
membership of that general organization." 



By B. F. Fuller. 451 

We believe that this classification fully and fairly pre- 
sents the result of previous decisions of the courts upon 
this question. The opinions of learned judges are of 
great length, and varied in the subjects discussed, but 
the points at issue and decided in the cases we have been 
able to examine are fairly represented by Judge Miller's 
statement. This case comes distinctly within the sec- 
ond class. As applicable to the question before the court, 
we quote further from that opinion as follows: 

"The second class of cases which we have described 
has reference to the case of a church of a strictly con- 
gregational or independent organization, governed solely 
within itself, either by a majority of its members or by 
some other local organism, as it may have instituted 
for the purpose of ecclesiastical government ; and to prop- 
erty held by such a church, either by way of purchase or 
donation, with no other specific trust attached to it in 
the hands of the church than that it is for the use of that 
congregation as a religious society. In such cases where 
there is a schism which leads to a separation into distinct 
and conflicting bodies, the rights of such bodies to the 
use of the property must be determined by the ordinary 
principles which govern voluntary associations. If the 
principle of government in such cases is that the ma- 
jority rules, then the numerical majority of members 
must control the right to the use of the property. If 
there be within the congregation officers in whom are 
vested the power of such control, then those who adhere 
to the acknowledged organism by which the body is gov- 
erned are entitled to the use of 'the property. The minor- 
ity, in choosing to separate themselves into a distinct 
body, and refusing to recognize the authority of the gov- 
erning body, can claim no rights to the property, from 
the fact they had once been members of the church or 
congregation. This ruling admits of no inquiry into the 
existing religious opinions of those who comprise the 
legal or regular organization, for, if such were permitted, 
a verv small minoritv. without anv officers of the church 



452 History of Texas Baptists. 

among them, might be found to be the only faithful sup- 
porters of the religious dogmas of the founders of the 
church. There being no such trust imposed upon the 
property when purchased or given, the court will not 
imply one for the purpose of expelling from its use those 
who, by regular succession and order, constitute the 
church, because they may have changed in some respect 
their views of religious truth." 

In support of this position we cite Bouldin vs. Alex- 
ander, 15 Wall., 131 ; 21 L. Ed., G9 ; Cox vs. Walker, 26 
Me., 50-1; Shannon vs. Frost, 3 B. Mon., 253; Gibson 
vs. Armstrong, T B. Mon., 481 ; Harper vs. Straws, 14 
B. Mon., 48; Presbyterian Congregation vs. Johnston, 1 
Watts, E. S., 1; McGinnis vs. Watson, 41 Pa., St., 9; 
Harmon vs. Dreher, 1 Speer. Eq., 87; Miller vs. Gable, 
2 Denio., 492; Hendrickson vs. Shotwell, 1 N. J. Eq., 
571 ; Bowden vs. McLeod, 1 Ewd. Ch., 588. 

The First Baptist church of Paris is a corporation 
created under the laws of the State of Texas, and is the 
successor of the Paris Baptist church, to the use of which 
the deed for the property in question was made. Under 
the rule laid down in the case of Watson vs. Jones, which 
we approve, the proper inquiry is, which of the two fac- 
tions constitutes the First Baptist church of Paris? To 
test this question the courts cannot examine the mem- 
bers of the two parties to ascertain what their beliefs are 
upon any given theological question, but must decide upon 
the legal phases of the case. In the case of Harper vs. 
Straws, before cited, Chief Justice Marshall, of the Su- 
preme Court of Kentucky, said: 

"The true question is, which of these congregations is 
the society which worshiped at Asbury chapel — that is, 
in the house at the corner of Fourth and Green streets — 
at and after the date of the deed conveying the property 
to that society? It is a question of identity, not of in- 
dividuals, but of the body. And as the deed makes no 
reference to the connection of the beneficiaries with any 
other church organization as essential to their rights, the 



By B. F. Fuller. 453 

continuance of the connection which existed at its date 
cannot be regarded as entering into the question of iden- 
tity by which it is to be determined by reference to the 
acts and internal organization of the body itself." 

The facts show that the plaintiffs, as they now claim 
to be organized, were not a separate body existing at the 
time the deed was made, nor when the charter of the 
church was procured, but were members of the congre- 
gation which worshiped in the house in question. ■ Upon 
a question of faith and adherence to the original Articles 
of Faith, the plaintiffs, a minority of the members, as- 
sumed that they alone adhered to the original Articles 
of Faith, and organized themselves into a body under the 
same name as that borne by the church to which they had 
formerly belonged. In doing so they did not become the 
incorporated church, but constituted themselves into an 
independent voluntary organization. Of a proceeding 
similar to this, Chief Justice Marshall, in the case of 
Harper vs. Straws, said: 

"When this proceeding took place, the old Asbury 
chapel, considered as the place of worship referred to in 
the deed by which it was conveyed, had ceased to be a 
place of worship. But the society which had worshiped 
there, until it was taken by the Masons, continued to 
exist as an organized society of Christians, forming a 
congregation with the same officers, the same pastor, and 
the same records. The party which felt itself driven to 
reorganize in the old organization had never before been 
an organized body or society of Christians, and, notwith- 
standing the assumption of the old name and the mys- 
tery of 'reorganizing in the old organization/ it cannot 
be that, while that old organization remained complete 
and distinct, and competent to the performance of its 
proper functions, and to the enjoyment of its rights, it 
could be merged in or superseded by this new organiza- 
tion. The movement indicated by these resolutions was 
revolutionary. Those who participated in it, if they had, 
up to that time, been members of the society which had 



454 History of Texas Baptists. 

worshiped at Asbury chapel, acted in this measure of 
reorganization independently of that society, threw off: its 
authority and renounced their connection with it. They 
formed, in fact, a new society, which, whatever name, 
form or right it might assume or claim, had never, as a 
society, worshiped at Asbury chapel. * * * By 
their secession they ceased to be members of it, arid be- 
ing, therefore, no longer within the description of the 
grantees or beneficiaries of the deed, they ceased to have 
any interest in the title or the use.'' 

It is not claimed that the defendants abandoned their 
organization as the First Baptist church of Paris, but 
the findings of fact establish conclusively that the church 
organization, as it existed prior to the division, contin- 
ued, and that plaintiffs entered into a new organization 
upon the ground that the defendants had abandoned the 
faith, and thereby forfeited their rights in the church 
property. 

The presumption upon which the supposed trust is 
based belongs to the class known as "disputable pre- 
sumptions of law." which are "the result of the general 
experience of a connection between certain facts or things, 
the one being usually found to be the companion or the 
effect of the other/' (1 Tayl. Ev.> Sec. 109; 1 Greenl. 
E\\, Sec. 33.) Before accepting the presumption as a 
rule of decision, it is well to examine its foundation and 
ascertain if it is well grounded in fact. It is the general 
experience of men that persons who subscribe to a fund 
to build a church have in their minds a condition that the 
house shall be devoted to the teachings of the peculiar 
views then professed by the members or declared by the 
body. If we recur each to his own experience, we will 
not recall a case in which this was known to be true. If 
we consult each his own purposes when making like con- 
tributions, the result will be the same. Xo such intent 
existed in our minds. In the examination of this ques- 
tion we have not found a case in which the donor of 
property for church purposes, or a subscriber to such a 



By B. F. Fuller. 455 

fund, has sought to enforce the trust, either when it was 
expressed in some instrument, or in those cases where a 
trust has been presumed by the courts; but in every in- 
stance the action has been by a faction of the congrega- 
tion, which, failing to control the church, sought the in- 
terposition of a court to decide their doctrinal differences j 
in order to control the property of the church. The fact l 
that no subscriber to a church fund has sought in the 1 
court of any State to enforce the observance by a church 
of the faith professed by it at the time his donation was 
made, and that our own experiences do not attest the 
existence of such conditions, shows that the supposed pur- 
pose does not generally exist in the minds of those who 
subscribe to these enterprises. The presumption of such 
intent discredits the public spirit and liberality of our 
people, who, whether Christians or not, when called upon 
to aid in such enterprises, do not stop to inquire into the 
particular religious belief of the congregation. Neither 
does the continuance in a particular doctrine concern 
them. They are actuated by the more laudable purpose 
of advancing the cause of Christianity. 

It is not within the province of courts to determine 
which of two factions is right from a Biblical or theo- 
logical point of view, nor which conforms to the faith 
originally adopted by the church, except when that is, in 
explicit terms, made a condition of the donation. Grant- 
ing that the defendants have abandoned the ~New Hamp- 
shire Confession of Faith, the rules of that church pre- 
scribed that a majority should control. The minority 
took membership with those rules in force, and must 
abide the result. In Miller vs. Gable it is said : 

"If any class of our citizens are of opinion that spirit- 
ual blessings can only flow in a particular channel; if 
a church or creed in their minds usurps the place of the 
revelation upon which they suppose them to be founded ; 
and if such persons found churches, they must declare 
their opinions explicitly, to have them respected. Such 
was not the belief of the plain men who established this 



456 History of Texas Baptists. 

church. They have left enough upon record to show 
that they were anxious that the essential truths of Chris- 
tianity, which were recognized by the great body of the 
reformers of that day, should be preached to them and 
to their children. This has been done. If we. go further 
and bind this church to a particular creed, and compel 
a reluctant submission to a judiciary whose authority 
they have renounced, it will, in my opinion, be the act 
of this court, and not that of the founders of the charity. 
I am of the opinion that the decree appealed from should 
be reversed/' 

And Judge Miller expressed the same thought in Wat- 
son vs. Jones, in the extract before made, of which we 
repeat this forcible sentence: 

"There being no such trust imposed upon the property 
when purchased or given, the court will not imply one 
for the purpose of expelling from its use those who, by 
regular succession and order, constitute the church, be- 
cause they may have changed in some respect their views 
of religious truth.*' 

In support of the judgment of the District Court, the 
plaintiffs in error cite the case of Peace vs. Christian 
Church, in which this court refused an application for 
writ of error from the judgment of the Court of Civil Ap- 
peals of the Third District, (48 S. \Y.. 534.) The trial 
court in that case found that the majority of the congre- 
gation '"permitted only its principles and doctrines to be 
taught in the church and its customs and usages to be 
followed, and would not permit those adhering to the 
holding a doctrine with the Progressive faction (the 
minority) to hold religious services or preach their prin- 
ciples and doctrines in the church building." and that 
"on September 23, 1807. defendants, G. A. Trot and R. 
M. Peace, elders as aforesaid (of the majority), locked 
the church house and took possession thereof for them- 
selves and the other defendants, all of whom adhered to 
the Firm Foundation faction (the majority), claiming 
that they are the original Christian church of MeGreggor; 



By B. F. Fuller. 457 

and defendants now hold exclusive possession of the 
church property against the plaintiff corporation and 
those composing said corporation."' The court also found 
that the minority organized a corporation in the name 
of the First Christian church of McGreggor, which was 
the plaintiff in that case. It was the opinion of this 
court, on examining the application for writ of error, 
that, without regard to the differences of opinion which 
prevailed between the members of the congregation, the 
majority had no right to exclude the minority from the 
use of the building so long as the latter were not dis- 
missed from membership in the church, and that the 
effect of the judgment in favor of the corporation was 
to restore the building to the use of the whole church. 
Upon this ground the application was refused, and not 
because this court approved of the opinion filed by the 
trial Judge, which was approved by the Court of Civil 
Appeals, holding that the majority had departed from 
the faith, and that, therefore, the minority constituted the 
original church. 

We may have been in error as to the effect of the judg- 
ment in this respect, because it may be true that the action 
of the minority in that case amounted to an abandonment 
of their membership in the original church, by which 
they lost their -rights in the property, which was deeded 
to the original organization, and that the corporation did 
not include the majority. If so, the writ of error should 
have been granted. But the case is not authority upon 
the questions involved in this. 

The plaintiffs in error assign that the Court of Civil 
Appeals erred in entering a judgment foreclosing the 
deed of trust upon the church property, and ordering the 
property to be sold. This assignment is well taken. 
Neither party to this suit sought a foreclosure of the deed 
of trust and sale of the property, and there was no plead- 
ing to sustain the judgment of the court. Besides, the 
incorporated First Baptist church of Paris, which owned 
the property, was not a party to the suit, and could not 



458 History of Texas Baptists. 

be bound by the judgment. The First Baptist church, 
which was joined by the plaintiffs in error, was a volun- 
tary association, formed by the minority of the church, 
which could not, by using the name of the incorporated 
church, appropriate a charter that had already been 
granted by the State, and under which there was an ex- 
isting organization. The judgment of the Court of Civil 
Appeals is affirmed in so far as it reverses the judgment 
of the District Court, and in all other respects it is re- 
versed. 

Proceeding to enter such judgment as the Court of 
Civil Appeals should have entered upon the facts found 
by the District Court, it is ordered that the plaintiffs in 
error take nothing by this suit, and that the defendants 
in error go hence without day and recover of the plain- 
tiffs in error, B. F. Fuller, Stewart Lee, S. H. Webb, W. 
F. Edwards, J. C. Hunt, E. M. Miller and J. B. John- 
son, all costs expended in all the courts. 

There was a motion for a rehearing in this case, which 
was held up by the court until the 28th day of June and 
overruled, which finally disposed of the case. From our 
examination of this opinion it is so apparent that all 
former precedents and authority, and all recognized 
standards, have been departed from, and the reasoning 
followed so entirely new in our State and elsewhere 
touching the ownership and control of church property, 
that we cannot afford to pass it over lightly. The special 
points in this decision, which are in direct conflict with 
other courts, may be classed as follows: 

1. That property conveyed to a church by its de- 
nominational name for the use of that church as a place 
of worship is not impressed with a trust for the mainte- 
nance of the doctrines of that church. In other words, 
that in this case the deed containing the following haben- 



By B. F. Fuller. 459 

dum clause, "To have and to hold unto the said L. H. 
Williams, Hardy Moore and Goodman Tucker and their 
successors, for the sole and exclusive use and benefit of 
the said Paris Baptist church,"' imposed no trust on that 
property «to be used for the support of the doctrines of 
that church. 

2. That there is no limit to the power of a majority 
in a Baptist church, but that they may change at will the 
faith and doctrines of the church without endangering 
its identity as a Baptist church, and may divert the prop- 
erty from the original doctrines to the propagation and 
support of wholly different and antagonistic principles 
and purposes, and the minority, who contend for and 
stand upon the faith on which the church was founded, 
has no remedy at law or in equity. 

3. That minorities in a Baptist church have abso- 
lutely no rights that the law will respect and enforce. 

4. The following conclusions of fact were found by 
the court: "That dissensions arose among the members 
of said church over the teachings and preaching of its 
then pastor, one G. M. Fortune; that said Fortune, by 
his preaching and published sermons and articles, denied 
the full inspiration of the Scriptures* and denied and 
repudiated the vicarious atonement of Christ for sinners, 
and denied that Christ died for and instead of sinners, 
and became their substitute, and denied that Christ's 
righteousness was imputed to the righteous, all of which 
was contrary to the doctrines and teachings of the Bap- 
tist church, and contrary to the Articles of Faith upon 
-which this church was organized and had continued to 
worship since its organization ; * * * that about 
the 30th of August, 1896, said Fortune rented a hall and 



460 History of Texas Baptists. 

delivered therein a series of sermons and lectures in op- 
position to and criticism of the creed of the Baptist 
church, which was attended by his adherents; * * * 
the faction which adhered to the doctrines of said For- 
tune had a majority of the members present and voting, 
and refused to request the resignation of said Fortune, 
and refused to accept his resignation when offered by 
him, and employed him as pastor for an indefinite length 
of time." Upon these facts the court holds that they 
were still the First Baptist church of Paris, and entitled 
to the unrestrained use and enjoyment of the church 
property. In other words, that a majority can deny the 
inspiration of the Scriptures and repudiate the atone- 
ment of Christ, and still be a Baptist church, in so far 
as property rights are involved. 

5. That courts cannot examine into the doctrines 
and polity of a church in case of a division on doctrinal 
questions and alleged departure from the faith, and prop- 
erty rights are involved, in order to determine which fac- 
tion constitutes the true church and is entitled to the 
possession of the property, "but must decide upon the 
legal phase of the case," whatever that may mean, ex- 
cept where there is an explicit condition in a donation. 

C. Perhaps the most difficult thing about this opin- 
ion to understand is the grounds of Judge Brown's con- 
clusion that the minority in this case had formed another 
organization, wholly distinct and separate from the orig- 
inal church. All the court had before it on this subject 
were the conclusions of fact by the trial Judge, and these 
were as follows: "G. The court finds: That at the time 
said discussions arose the membership of the First Bap- 
tist church of Paris was about four hundred; that said 



By B. F. Fuller. 461 

dissensions continued to grow until the church way divid- 
ed into two factions, one faction adhering to the doc- 
trines, (teachings and preaching of the said G-. M. For- 
tune, and the other faction standing by and adhering to 
the doctrines of the Baptist church and the Articles of 
Faith upon which the church was organized; that the 
faction which adhered to the original Articles of Faith 
and the doctrines and teachings of the Baptist church 
strenuously opposed the re-employment of said Fortune 
as pastor of said church, and after he was employed, in- 
sisted on his resignation, because of his doctrines ; but 
at the several meetings when these matters came up and 
were discussed and passed upon, the faction which ad- 
hered to the doctrines of said Fortune had a majority 
of the members present and voting; * * * that the 
anti-Fortunites (which was <the minority) continued to 
meet and hold services and Sunday-school in the First 
Baptist church building until Sunday next preceding the 
6th day of October, 1896, when the church doors were 
locked and the windows barred by the Fortunites; 
* * * that as soon as the aforesaid defendants bought 
in said church property and got a deed to it from said 
Trustee Spivey, the said G-. M. Fortune was called back 
to preach in said church by the Fortunites as a supply, 
and continued to preach in said church until about the 
25 th of July, 1897, and the anti-Fortunites, or the ad- 
herents of the original Articles of Faith, were thereby 
excluded from holding services in said church building 
under the teachings and instructions of a pastor of the 
original Baptist faith, and since their exclusion have held 
religious worship as the First Baptist church of Paris in 
Aiken Institute and Meyer's Hall/' Upon these facts 



462 History of Texas Baptists. 

Judge Brown holds that this constituted a voluntary 
abandonment of the First Baptist church of Paris, and 
the formation of a new and distinct organization, and 
thereby forfeiting all right to claim any interest in the 
church property. 

| ?. Judge Brown's conception of the nature of the 
trust contended for by other courts in such cases does not 
seem to be justified by anything that has heretofore been 
written. He seems to understand that if any trust should 
exist it would be for the benefit of contributors and 
donors to the church building fund, and not for the sole 
benefit of the church as an organization, as though the 
church was a joint stock company, each contributor hold- 
ing an interest in proportion to the amount contributed. 
But on examination of the authorities cited by Judge 
Brown, we look in vain for a single one that takes this 
view of the nature of the trust in such cases. 

It follows that the absurdities suggested in the opin- 
ion, as likely to flow from this view of the trust, of con- 
tributors demanding the enforcement of the trust against 
their own convictions, lose all their force and effect. Xo 

, case holds, and no one connected with the Paris Baptist 
church case contended, that the person who contributes 
to the purchase of property and erection of a house for 
religious worship for a particular church becomes thereby 
the beneficiary of a trust for the maintenance of the doc- 
trines of that church. The trust arises for the benefit of 
the members of the church. The contribution is an abso- 
lute, unconditional gift to them, and they devote it to 
the support of the doctrines of that church, and the trust 
results to their benefit. The contribution becomes merged 
in the general building fund, and the contributor retains 



By B. F. Fuller. 463 

no sort of interest in it. The motive that prompts the 
contribution may or may not be the promotion of a par- 
ticular creed, but the motive on the part of those en- 
gaged in establishing and building up the church can 
never be anything else than the support and propagation 
of a particular doctrine ; therefore this trust is sustained 
for their benefit, and not for the benefit of the donors. 

It must be admitted that our Supreme Court in this 
decision shows great independence and originality. They 
cut loose from all jDrecedents and stand alone. The con- 
clusions are reached in defiance of and by ignoring all 
known authority. It is true that many cases are referred 
to, but none of them involved the question of a division 
in a church on account of a fundamental departure from 
the original doctrines of the church on the part of one 
faction, and adherence thereto by the other, claiming to 
be the real church, because they stood upon the faith on 
which it was founded. 

This opinion of Justice Brown stands absolutely alone 
in denying the existence. of a trust in church property 
conveyed for the express purpose of a place of worship 
for a church organization, and denying the right to have 
this trust enforced in favor of those holding to and stand- 
ing upon the original faith upon which the church was 
founded, against those who had abandoned these doc- 
trines in a fundamental departure therefrom. Our Su- 
preme Court does not seem to see any difference in de- 
partures in trivial, inconsiderable points, and those of a 
fundamental, vital nature. Other courts have fully recog- 
nized a wide difference. The minority in this case did 
not contend, and no court has ever held, that there was a 
violation of the trust by a change in unimportant par- 



464 History of Texas Baptists. 

ticulars, but it was contended in the Paris case that a 
denial of the inspiration of the Scriptures and repudia- 
tion of the atonement of Christ were not trivial in their 
nature, but vital and fundamental departures, not only 
from the Baptist faith, but from Christianity, and all 
courts up to this case have held such departures by a ma- 
jority of a church a subversion of the trust. 

The same may be said in reference to the right of a 
majority to govern. Justice Brown seems to see no differ- 
ence in the right of the majority in a Baptist church to 
control in the government of the church in the manner 
of using the church property for the maintenance of a 
Baptist church, and the right of the majority to change 
its fundamental principles so as to destroy the original 
institution and create something else other than a Bap- 
tist church. Xo other court has failed to recognize a 
total dissimilarity. It was not contended in the Paris 
case that the majority did not have the right to control, 
but it was contended, and other courts have 'uniformly 
held, that this right did not involve the power in the 
majority to change fundamental principles and substitute 
for Baptist doctrines a different and antagonistic faith. 

While church litigation is always to be avoided and 
discountenanced, there seems still to be no principle in 
equity that denies to a church the same rights of security 
in the possession and enjoyment of trust property that is 
accorded to secular bodies. It seems to be intimated in 
this opinion of our Supreme Court that church property 
may be charged with a trust for the support of a specific 
fanth by setting out in the conveyance in full and ex- 
plicit terms the doctrines and teachings of that partic- 
ular church. In Baptist churches this doubtless would 



By B. F. Fuller. 465 

include the declaration of faith in full, together with the 
acknowledged standard interpretations of it. 

As long as this case stands it will be a menace to 
Baptist churches in Texas. They stand in peril of being 
converted to the support and propagation of any strange 
and antagonistic doctrine whenever a majority may so ; 
determine. This might be Mormonism. with its polyg- * 
amy; Mohammedanism, with its Koran, or infidelity 
without any creed. In view of the extent to which the 
majority of the First Baptist church of Paris were led, it 
would be no answer to this forboding to suggest that 
Baptists can never be led to material extreme departures. 

While thus commenting on this opinion of our Su- 
preme Court, it ,is proper here to state that the author, 
having known Judge Brown for many years, has the 
highest regard for his learning and integrity. He has, 
also, known the learned Chief Justice for a third of a 
century, and has always recognized the strength and cor- 
rectness of his well trained and luminous mind, and his 
esteem for him as a Judge and as a man has always been 
high. He has witnessed with pride the high standing of 
the decisions of this court among courts of other States. 
Yet, from our point of view, we are deeply impressed with 
the conviction that the opinion in the Paris Baptist 
church case cannot be accepted as a sound exposition of 
the law. The author being one of the defeated minority 
in this case, it may be supposed that his strong bias 
would disqualify him from an impartial view of the ease, 
but he here enters his protest against the principles an- 
nounced in the opinion as being unsound and funda- 
mentally erroneous. It is believed that this case will not 
be followed as a precedent. The result of this litiga- 



466 History of Texas Baptists. 

tion is determined by it, but it is hoped that our Texas 
court will, at no distant day, adopt the safer, sounder and 
broader view of the other courts of our country. Our 
Supreme Court for some years has adopted the policy of 
giving out no dissenting opinion, and it is not known if 
the decision was unanimous. From the length of time 
the case was pending it is thought there may not have 
been entire unanimity. The author has passed beyond 
the mark of three score years and ten, and may not see 
the question again made an issue in our State, but the 
future reader that may hap to scan these pages will learn 
that this decision has failed to stand the test of time and 
the search-light of ivason. and the minority of the First 
Baptist church of Paris will be vindicated. 



APPENDIX. 

LEGAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATURE, FUNCTIONS AND 
POWERS OF THE BAPTIST GENERAL CON- 
VENTION OF PARIS. I 

Opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals, in and for the 
Fifth Supreme Judicial District of Texas, decided in 
April, 1900: 

J. B. Cranfill et al., appellants (No. 2,868) vs. S. A. 

Hayden, appellee. Appeal from Dallas county. 

This suit was instituted by S. A. Hayden, in the Dis- 
trict Court of Dallas county ^ against J. B. Cranfill, J. B. 
Gambrell, J. M. Eobertson, D. G. Wooten, G. W. Truett, 
II. C. Gleiss, G. C. Slaughter, T. J. Walne, J. B. Riddle, 
L. M. Mays, W. H. Jenkins, J. M. Carroll, L. R. Milli- 
can, W. R. Maxwell, F. W. Freeman, R. T. Hanks, J. C. 
Burkett, Bennett Hatcher, I. B. Kimbrough, R. A. Lee, 
G. W. Baines, A. E. Baten, J. C. Gentry, and certain 
other persons, as to whom the cause' was voluntarily dis- 
missed. The suit is for damages on account of alleged 
libelous publications. A recovery is sought for actual 
and exemplary damages. 

The petition represents that the plaintiff was a 
preacher of the Gospel, belonging to the Baptist denomi- 
nation of Christians, and the editor and proprietor of a 
religious newspaper devoted to the interests of that de- 
nomination and the cause of the Christian religion. It 
is alleged that each and all of the defendants are mem- 
bers of churches in this State of the Baptist denomina- 
tion, though not members of the same local church organ- 
ization. It is alleged that each and all of the churches 
(467) 



468 Appendix. 

of the Baptist denomination are independent and sov- 
ereign, there being no general superior body clothed with 
jurisdiction to supervise and control the actions of the 
various churches or their members. It is shown that 
there existed a State Baptist organization, known and 
designated as Baptist - General Convention, which is a 
corporation created by and under the laws of the State. 
That its objects are missionary and educational, the pro- 
motion of harmony of feeling and concert of action 
among Baptists, and a system of operative measures for 
the promotion of the interests of the Redeemer's king- 
dom. Its membership is composed of messengers from 
regular Baptist churches and associations of Baptist 
churches and missionary societies co-operating with the 
Convention. That the church of which the plaintiff was 
and is a member, and the association of churches to which 
it belonged, were in harmony and good fellowship with 
the regular Baptist churches throughout the State and 
witli the Baptist General Convention. That the Baptist 
General Convention met at San Antonio in November, 
1897, and that the plaintiff and each and all of the de- 
fendants were duly constituted messengers to that Con- 
vention, and as such were entitled to seats in the Con- 
vention and to participate as members in the proceedings 
in that body. It is shown that his right to membership 
and participation in said Convention was challenged, and 
that he was prevented from exercising his rights as a 
member of said Convention. It is alleged that the chal- 
lenge related to his personal conduct and character; that 
the validity of his credentials as a messenger were not 
brought in question, and that the Baptist General Con- 
vention was without jurisdiction as to the subject mat- 
ter, the church to which he belonged alone having juris- 
diction and authority over his personal conduct. It is 
charged that this challenge was in writing; that it was 
libelous in character, and that it was published, -first, by 
the reading of it to the large membership of the Con- 
vention assembled ; second, printing it in the minutes of 



Appendix. -189 

the Convention and distributing copies thereof over the 
State and in Dallas county; and third, by publishing it 
in The Baptist Standard, a newspaper published at Waco, 
and widely circulated over the State, includiing Dallas 
county. It is charged that said written challenge con- 
tained serious, damaging and false accusations against 
him, reflecting upon his character as a man, a Christian 
gentleman and Baptist minister. That this challenge 
was referred to a Committee on Challenges, and this com- 
mittee, without investigating the truth of the charges, 
made a majority report sustaining the challenge, and a 
minority report against the challenge. That attached 
to the minority report was a defense to the charges, pre- 
pared by the plaintiff. It is alleged that the minority re- 
port, including the defense of the plaintiff, entitled, "My 
Beply," were excluded from each and all of the publica- 
tions, and that had they been published they would have 
tended to relieve and exculpate him from the charges 
made. It is charged that all of the defendants published, 
or caused the publication of the libelous matter, and it is 
further alleged that said libelous publications were made 
in furtherance of the objects of a conspiracy formed by 
and between said defendants to exclude the plaintiff from 
the Convention, break down his influence and power as a 
Baptist minister and editor of a Baptist newspaper, etc. 
It is charged that the publication of the libel injured his 
character as a man and Baptist minister; caused him to 
be deprived of his membership in said Baptist General 
Convention, and the rights and privileges incident thereto, 
and injured and impaired the value of his newspaper 
business, etc., to his actual damage, $50,000. Express 
malice in the publication is charged as the basis for the 
claim of exemplary damages in the sum of $50,000. The 
petition is very lengthy, and this statement is only de- 
signed to set forth the general essential features of the 
plaintiff's cause of action, as asserted by his pleadings. 

The defendants answered by plea of not guilty, and 
plea of privileged communication. 



470 Appendix. 

In the plea of privilege it is substantially alleged that 
L. M. Mays and all of the other defendants and plaintiff 
(Hayden) were messengers to the Baptist General Con- 
vention at San Antonio in the year 1897. That Mays 
was sent as, a messenger by a Baptist association known 
as the Austin Association ; that he, as such messenger, 
presented to the Convention the challenge alleged to be 
libelous: that the challenge was submitted to the appro- 
priate committee, which reported upon it, and that the 
defendants voted for the report of the committee, which 
recommended that said Hayden be denied a seat in the 
Convention; that in presenting the challenge, making 
the report thereon and in voting on the report, and in 
all other publications charged against them, they acted 
in good faith and without malice, and in the honest be- 
lief of the truth of the allegations contained in said chal- 
lenge, and that it was their duty to the Convention, them- 
selves and the Baptist denomination so to do. That the 
challenge and report thereon were presented at a regular 
business meeting in session, and i hat they were all reg- 
ularly constituted messengers or delegates to said Con- 
vention. The plea alleged substantially that everything 
done in the premises by the defendants was done in the 
honest belief in the truth of the matters contained in the 
challenge, and in good faith, without malice or ill will 
toward said Hayden, and in the honest belief that it was 

3sary for the protection of the interests of said Con- 
vention, themselves and the Baptist denomination. 

The plaintiff*.- pleadings set nut in full the challenge, 

-'itutingthe alleged libel and the majority and minor- 
ity reports thereon, including the defensive paper pre- 
pared by the plaintiff, Dr. Hayden. 

The challenge did not question the validity or regu- 
larity of Dr. Haydeus selection as a messenger to the 
Convention, but assailed his eligibility to membership in 
that body by reason of alleged hostility to its works and 
objects public abuse and misrepresentation of its officers 
and agent-, and personal unworthiness, a- manifested by 



Appendix. 471 

his course of conduct as stated. The minority report, with 
the attached reply of Dr. Hayden to the charges, ques- 
tioned the jurisdiction of the Convention over the sub- 
ject matter of the challenge, sought to refute the charges, 
and justify Dr. Hayden's course of conduct toward the 
Conventioin, its officers and agents and his Baptist 
brethren. 

The case was tried before a jury and resulted in a 
verdict and judgment for plaintiff against all the de- 
fendants for $20,000 actual, and $10,000 exemplary dam- 
ages. The defendants have appealed. 

OPIXIOX. 

The first contention made by the appellants is that 
the charge of conspiracy was not proven, and that the 
court erred in admitting in evidence the declarations and 
acts of certain defendants made in the absence of other 
defendants, and in refusing to limit the effect of such 
evidence to each defendant whose declarations or acts 
were proven. 

If the premise be conceded that there was no evidence 
of a conspiracy, there can be no question but that the 
declarations or acts of one defendant, occurring in the 
absence of the other defendants, should only be treated 
as evidence against the particular defendant whose dec- 
larations or acts they were. It would be in contravention 
of the plainest principles of justice to hold one respon- 
sible for the declarations or acts of another, made or oc- 
curing in his absence and without his authority, when 
they had not collectively assumed the attribute of indi- 
viduality by conspiring together for the accomplishment 
of a common object. (3 Greenleaf on Evidence, Sec. 94, 
sixth edition.) 

On the trial of the case several witnesses were per- 
mitted to testify, over the objections of the defendants, 
to declarations and acts of particular defendants occur- 
ring in the absence of other defendants. Witnesses Parks, 



472 Appendix. 

Hayden and Anderson were allowed to fully detail all 
that was said and done before the Committee of Chal- 
lenges in relation to the challenge against Dr. Hayden. 
Some of the persons who composed that committee and 
took part in its proceedings are made parties defendant 
in this suit, but the larger number of the defendants were 
not members of the committee, and were not present dur- 
ing its proceedings, or the occurrences testified to. Wit- 
nesses were permitted to testify to declarations of certain 
defendants, some made before and some after the Con- 
vention, to the effect that it was their intention to keep 
Dr. Hayden out of the Convention. Letters written by 
Dr. Cranfill to Mr. Cason, of Huntsville, and Mr. Bowell, 
of Jefferson, prior to the Convention, manifesting antag- 
onism and hostility toward Dr. Hayden, and a determina- 
tion to force an issue with him, were allowed in evidence. 
The proceedings of the Baptist General Convention in 
relation to the challenge of Dr. Hayden, as published in 
The Baptist Standard, a Baptist denominational news- 
paper, then exclusively owned and edited by Dr. Cranfill, 
were read in evidence. Dr. Hayden was allowed to testify 
to a difficulty between him and Dr. Hanks, occurring long 
prior to the San Antonio convention, occasioned by a 
publication made by Dr. Hayden, charging Dr. Hanks 
with scandalous conduct with women. The defendants 
asked the court to instruct the jury that the allegation 
of conspiracy had not been proven, and that the jury 
should not consider against any of the defendants dec- 
larations of other defendants, in which they did not par- 
ticipate. In other words, the jury should not hold any 
defendant responsible for anything done or said, except 
his own language or conduct. This charge was refuted, 
and nowhere in the charge of the court is the allegation 
of conspiracy mentioned. The charge submits the case 
to the jury as though conspiracy had not been alleged, 
and directed them to find whether defendants or any of 
them took part in publishing or causing publication of 
the libel. Further, that the plaintiff would only be en- 



Appendix. 473 

titled to recover against such of the defendants as took 
part in publishing or procuring the publication of the 
libel. There are three distinct publications of the libel 
alleged — the reading of the challenge to the membership 
of the Convention, its publication in the minutes of the 
Convention, and its publication in The Baptist Standard. 
Each of the alleged publications of the libel constituted 
a cause of action, and while they may all be embraced 
in one suit and damages recovered for all the injuries in- 
flicted by the several publications, this is permissible only 
where the several causes of action are common to all the 
defendants. (Hays vs. Perkins, 54 S. W. Rep.. 1071 ; 
Kewell on Libel, p. 382, Sec. 42, second edition.) 

We have carefully examined and weighed every item 
of evidence contained in the record, and we find ourselves 
unable to concede that there was no evidence tending to 
prove the conspiracy as alleged. We think it unnecessary, 
if not improper, in view of the disposition to be made of 
the case, to discuss the details of the evidence. It is 
sufficient to say that there was some evidence tending to 
show that there was a common desire among the defend- 
ants to exclude Dr. Hayden from the Baptist General 
Convention, and to finally and entirely eliminate him 
and his influence from the work of that body; that there 
was a common design to accomplish that end, and that 
they acted in harmony and together in the adoption and 
use of the means to accomplish the object. Even though 
it be conceded that the object of such a combination be 
lawful, yet if the means adopted and used to bring about 
the desired end be unlawful, the parties would be none 
the less conspirators. (3 Greenleaf on Evidence, Sees. 
90-95.) Although the prime object may not have been 
to libel Dr. Hayden, still if the publication of libelous 
charges against him was a means employed to accom- 
plish the end upon which the defendants had associated 
and joined their individual efforts, they should be held 
liable as conspirators in the publication of the libel. 
While we hold that there was evidence tending to show 



-±74 Appendix. 

a conspiracy, we do not regard the evidence as being con- 
clusive in its probative effect. It was sufficient to go to 
the jury as tending to prove the fact of conspiracy, the 
existence of which it was the duty of the jury to deter- 
mine. The court should have treated it as an issuable 
fact. But it is insisted by appellee that appellants have 
no just ground of complaint at the manner in which the 
court treated this phase of the case, because the evidence 
showed that each of the defendants personally took part 
in causing the publication of the libel, and the charge 
that they conspired together was thereby rendered im- 
material. If it be admitted that the evidence showed 
that each appellant took part in some one of the three 
publications alleged, it is most certain that it was not 
shown, aside from the theory of conspiracy, that each 
defendant participated in all three of the publications. 
If the conspiracy was not established, then each defend- 
ant could lawfully be held liable only for the damages 
caused by the libelous publication with which he was 
connected by the evidence. The charge did not so confine 
their liability. In the charge of the court to the jury it 
stated : 

"While there has been a great deal of the testimony 
introduced, the court has not permitted any of it to be 
introduced for any other purpose than to enable us to 
properly decide the few issues which, under the pleadings, 
we are called upon to decide, and in considering the testi- 
mony it should be considered solely with reference to its 
bearing on those issues." 

The first issue submitted for the decision of the jury 
was "whether the defendants or any of them took any 
pari in publishing the libel, or in causing it to be pub- 
lished." Upon this issue the jury was further instructed 
as follows: 

"Only one of the defendants in this case signed his 
name to the libelous paper, but it is not necessary to the 
publication of a libel that one should sign his name to it. 
Every one who takes any part in publishing a libel is 



Appendix. 475 

equally responsible with the author of the libel, and 
every one who requests, procures or commands another 
to publish a libel is equally as responsible as though he 
had published it himself; by so doing he takes part in 
the publication of the libel. And such request may not 
be expressed, but may be inferred from the defendant's 
conduct, if his conduct is such as to fairly justify such 
an inference." 

It will be seen that the court treats the three publi- 
cations as one libel; tells the jury that all the evidence 
is material to the issues they must determine, and in no 
way limits the declarations and the acts of particular 
defendants. Under this character of submission, may 
the jury not have concluded that as each of the defend- 
ants was shown to have participated in one of the pub- 
lications, that each should be held responsible for all of 
the publications, regardless of the charge of conspiracy? 
The court so treated the matter in the admission of testi- 
mony and in his charge, and it is quite natural that the 
jury should have followed in the same channel. The 
court should have treated the charge of conspiracy as an 
issuable fact to be determined by the jury; limited the 
acts and declarations of the defendants, in case the jury 
should find against the charge of conspiracy, to the par- 
ticular defendants respectively, whose acts or declarations 
were proven, and in the event of such a finding confined 
the liability of each defendant to the damages resulting 
from his own acts. 

It is urged that the court erred in refusing special 
charges asked embracing the proposition that the publi- 
cation of the challenge was conditionally privileged, and 
that the defendants could not be held liable in damages 
therefor unless they were actuated by express malice, and 
in failing to submit the issue of good faith raised by .the 
plea of privilege and the evidence offered in support of it. 
Along the same line complaint is made at the action of 
the court in refusing to admit evidence tending to show 
the truth of the charges contained in the challenge, offered 



4? 6 Appendix. 

for the purpose of showing that the defendants acted in 
good faith, believing the charges to be true, and not 
offered in justification of the alleged libel. 

The question which first arises is, Was the publication 
of the challenge a privileged communication? This is a 
question of law for the decision of this court, and was 
simply a question of law for the decision of the trial 
Judge in the court below. (Cotulla vs. Kerr, 74 Texas, 
94; Xewell on Libel, 391-392, Sec. 9.) Reference is had 
to privileged communications of a qualified or conditional 
character. The occasion of the communication is that 
which gives character to it as privileged or not. (Eunge 
vs. Franklin, 72 Texas, 588.) The occasion is the entire 
group of circumstances surrounding the act, including 
the actor, the person acted upon, the character of the act, 
the manner of effecting the act, and the motive and con- 
sequences of the act. (Townsend on Libel. Sec. 50.) 
To be privileged, the communication must be made upon 
a proper occasion, upon a proper motive, and must be 
-1 upon reasonable grounds. AYhen so made in good 
faith, no recovery can be had without proof of express 
malice. (Xewell on Libel, p. 391, Sec. 7.) The person 
making the communication or publication must have an 
interest in the subject matter, and there must be a cor- 
responding interest in the person or persons to whom 
- the publication is made, and the communication must be 
j made upon reasonable grounds and in good faith under 
a sense of duty. When a publication is made of de- 
famatory matter under such conditions it is privileged 
and protected, whether true or false. (lb., p. 388-389, 
Sees. 1 and 2.) 

The essential elements of a privileged communication 
are such, therefore, as to require the Judge in determin- 
ing the question of privilege to look to all the circum- 
stances developed by the evidence touching the matter, 
including the expressions contained in the alleged libel, 
whether excessively defamatory or not, and the manner 



Appendix. 477 

of publication, whether fair or partial and unjust. (lb., 
p. 392, Sec. 11.) 

Applying these basal principles to the case in hand, 
it is clear that to consider the challenge as privileged it 
is necessary that the Convention must have had the 
authority over the subject matter of the challenge, and 
a right to take action thereon, and those charged with 
the publication must have acted under a sense of duty 
in the premises. The occasion would not justify the pub- 
lication unless the Convention had such authority and 
jurisdiction. (Belo vs. Wren, 63 Texas, 686; Holt vs. 
Parsons, 23 Texas, 19.) By accepting credentials to the 
Baptist General Convention and applying for admission 
as a member, Dr. Hayden must be held to have assented, 
and submitted himself to the exercise of all lawful author- 
ity which pertained to that body in relation to the matter 
of its own membership. If the matter presented to the 
Convention by the challenge was pertinent to the exer- 
cise of a jurisdiction which that body possessed over the 
subject of its membership, and the members of that body 
charged with its publication acted in good faith under a 
sense of duty, upon reasonable grounds, believing the 
charges to be true, it must be held privileged. (Town- 
send on Libel, Sees. 233-237.) Did the Convention have 
authority and jurisdiction in the premises? The Baptist 
General Convention is a private corporation, created by 
and under the laws of the State, with objects declared 
to be missionary and educational, the promotion of har- 
mony of feeling and concert of action among Baptists, 
and a system of operative measures to further the inter- 
ests of the Christian religion. The charter of the cor- 
poration is not before us, and, as a corporation, we must 
regard it in the light of the exercise of the usual powers, 
privileges and functions conferred by statute. Our 
statute authorizes the creation of corporations for such 
objects, and grants the usual corporate powers, but pro- 
vides that the corporate officers shall not usurp or exer- 
cise the functions of the officers in charge of the spiritual 



478 Appendix. 

affairs of any society. (1{. S., 713.) One of the products 
of the corporate body is an annual State convention of 
Baptists, manifestly inaugurated to further the objects 
of the corporation. This Convention has for the basis 
of its organization and actions a constitution. This con- 
stitution sets forth the objects to be such as heretofore 
i recited as the objects of the corporation, and provides 
for an annual meeting of the body. Article 1, Section 2, 
provides : 

"This body shall be composed of messengers from 
regular Baptist churches and associations of Baptist 
churches and Baptist missionary societies co-operating 
with the Convention.*' 

Sections 2, 3 and 4 fix the number of messengers 
which each of the churches, associations of churches and 
missionary societies shall be entitled to send to the an- 
nual Convention. Article 2. Section 3, declares: 

"The Convention does not have and shall never at- 
tempt to exercise a single attribute of power or authority 
over any church, but it cheerfully recognizes the absolute 
sovereignty of the churches." 

In Article S it is provided: "This constitution shall 
not be changed or amended unless the change or amend- 
ment be offered on the first day of the annual session, and 
lie over to some subsequent day. and then only by a two- 
» thirds majority.*' 

From these provisions of the organic law of the Con- 
vention we must determine its nature, functions and 
, powers, there being no other lights to be seen in the 
record. It does not appear that the Convention is a 
body exercising delegated powers. While its member- 
ship is made up of persons selected by churches, associa- 
tions of churches and missionary societies co-operating 
with the Convention, as an institution, it nowhere ap- 
pears that such messengers are to perform delegated 
duties, are in any way bound to conform to instructions 
of the bodies naming them as messengers, or have any 
right whatever to bind such bodies. On the other hand. 



Appendix. -7- 

pressly appears that this body of messengers from 
the many churches has no power or right whatever to 
bind any church by its action, and is prohibited from 
ever attempting to do so. We must then understand the 
annual Convention to be a deliberative body, composed 
of individuals voluntarily named by the several churches, 
associations of churches and missionary societies, which 
;:-:~^:\.:r in — :ri-:. ~::h:u: I'lz'cuLzy ez:eniinr ~:zy::zz\ 
its membership. It has no body superior to it to con:: : I 

deliberations and proceedings, and none subordinate 
to be bound thereby. If, then, it has no supervisory 
power over it, and exercises no delegated powers, is not 
representative, it must be an independent sovereign body, 
under the limits only of its organic law. Its organic law 
provides that the messengers shall be selected by the 
bodies before named, and it was doubtless presumed that 
good and suitable men, in harmony with the purposes in 
view, would be named by such organizations. This 
method was probably chosen in order to fix the member- 
ship within proper limits, secure the general co-operation 
of all these Baptist organizations, and obtain the best 
representatives of the Baptist denomination from every 
section of the State as members of the Convention. There 
is nothing in the constitution, however, renouncing the 
right and power of the Convention to control its member- 
ship. That such deliberative bodies have exclusive author- 
ity and jurisdiction to determine who may exercise the 
rights and privileges of membership must be conceded. 
( Jarrell vs. Sproles, 49 S. W., 908.) 

The collective wisdom, judgment and integrity of 
such assemblies generally is the only safeguard against 
the abusive exercise of such power. Such bodies must 
be treated as possessing the inherent right and authority 
to protect themselves in the matter of their membership, 
and in the exercise of that right and authority they are 
answerable alone to their own consciences and to general 
public opinion. They are not limited to the power to in- 
vestigate and determine the validity of the election and 



480 Appendix. 

regularity of the credentials of one claiming membership, 
as is contended by appellee, but they have the power to 
refuse him membership upon any grounds which may 
seem good and sufficient to the body itself. 

The challenge in question charged Dr. Hayden with 
a long continued antagonism and obstruction to the work 
and objects of the Convention, acts of insubordination as 
a member, and the wanton publication of slanderous 
charges against the officers and agents of the Convention 
in their official relations, and in connection with such 
specifications charged that he was unworthy in moral 
character, and that his continued membership in the 
Convention would be a menace to the laudable and re- 
ligious objects of that body. Should it be said that the 
Convention had no authority to look into and take action 
upon such a matter? Must the good work of such bodies 
be obstructed and imperiled for want of authority to 
purge their membership of obstructing and unfriendly 
elements ? It seems to us clear that the Convention had 
full authority and jurisdiction in the premises: thai 
members were interested and charged with a duty in re- 
lation to the matter, and we cannot regard the expres- 
sions contained in the challenge as so excessively defama- 
tory as should at once stamp it as malicious and unjust, 
and strip it of the privileged character. Xeither are we 
prepared to hold that the failure to publish the minority 
report and Dr. Hayrlen's defensive paper along with the 
challenge and the report of the majority of the commit- 
tee thereon was such an ex-parte and unfair proceeding 
as to justify its condemnation as malicious and unpriv- 
ileged, as a matter of law. There is a question in the 
evidence whether the minority report and Dr. Hayden's 
paper as a part thereof was ever offered to be read to the 
Convention, or was lodged with any member of the Con- 
vention charged with the duty of presenting it. 

It further appears that Dr. Hayden's paper contained 
serious and defamatory charges against members of the 
Convention, its trusted officers and agents. To refrain 



Appendix. 481 

from the publication of such a paper should not, as a 
matter of law, be regarded as conclusive evidence of 
malice, and be made the basis of the exclusion of the 
defense of privileged communication. The evidence as 
to the manner of publication was, however, proper to go 
to the jury on the issue of express malice. It follows 
from these conclusions that the court erred in not holding 
the occasion to be privileged, and in failing to submit to 
the jury the issues of fact properly arising under the 
plea of privilege. What has been said as to the question 
of privilege has been directed at the publication of the 
challenge to the body of the Convention. The same prin- 
ciples apply to the publication of the minutes of the pro- 
ceedings of the Convention, and the publication of such 
proceedings in a newspaper, shown to have been devoted 
to the interests of the Baptist denomination in this State, 
published as the proceedings of this important Baptist 
body, if the proper basis in the evidence be furnished, 
although the paper was owned and controlled by one in- 
dividual. 

The contention of appellee that the charge of the 
court in effect gave the defendants the benefit of their 
plea of privileged communication is not well founded. 
There were, in fact, only these issues left open for the 
decision of the jury: (1) Did the defendants, or any of 
them, participate in the publication of the libel? (2) 
What was the actual damage sustained by the plaintiff ? 
(3) And as the basis of exemplary damages, were the 
defendants actuated by express malice? There was left 
but one chance of escape from damages under the charge, 
and that was that they did not participate in the pub- 
lication. 

Should the court have admitted testimony offered by 
defendants tending to prove the truth of the charges con- 
tained in the alleged libel, tendered in support of the de- 
fense of privileged communication, and not in justifica- 
tion? The objection upon which the court excluded the 
testimony was that the defendants had not pleaded the 



482 Appendix. 

truth of the alleged libel as a justification. The plaintiff 
had introduced evidence tending to show bad feeling and 
ill will on the part of the defendants toward him, for the 
purpose of proving that they were moved and actuated 
by express malice in the publication of the libel. The 
j court permitted the defendants to testify that they acted 
I in good faith, believing the charges to be untrue, under a 
sense of duty, and without ill will toward Dr. Hayden; 
but closed their lips as to the reasons or grounds upon 
which their good faith and belief rested, upon the ground 
that a failure to plead the truth of the defamatory charges 
in justification necessarily cut them off from this proof. 
Under our statute the defendant may plead as many sev- 
eral matters as he may think necessary to his defense, and 
it is only required that he shall file them at the same time 
and in due order. (R. S., 1,262.) They are not required 
to be consistent defenses. (Wildan vs. Texas Co., 65 
Texas, 487.) The defense of privileged communication 
is a perfect defense to an action for libel, and not a plea 
in mitigation of damages. It was certainly admissible 
for the defendants to prove every cgsential element to 
the defense of privileged communication. Good faith 
and honest belief in the truth of the charges, as has been 
seen, is an important and necessary element in such a 
defense. Upon what privilege may the defendants be 
permitted to testify that they did act in good faith, under 
such honest belief, and then be refused the privilege of 
showing the basis of their good faith and belief? What 
better way is there to establish good faith and honest be- 
lief than tc show a reasonable basis upon which they were 
founded? It was not sought to show the truth of the 
libelous charges as in itself a defense, but only in sup- 
port of the defense of the plea of privilege. The objec- 
tion to the evidence is not sound, and the court erred in 
sustaining it (Ex. Co. vs. Copeland, 64 T., 359; Levy 
Co. vs. Richmond, 73 T., 575; Edwards vs. Chandler, 
14 Pa. St., 365; Bush vs. Prosser, 11 1ST. Y., 347; Brad- 



Appendix. 483 

ley vs. Heath, 12 Pick, 164-165; Remington vs. Cogdon, 
2 Pick, 315; Conn vs. Clapp, 4 Mass., 169.) 

It is complained that the charge of the court in that 
portion which deals with Dr. Harden' s exclusion from 
the Convention, as a matter which might be considered 
in estimating damages, practically instructed the jury to 
find that the publication was maliciously made. The 
charge instructed the jury that if they found that the 
Convention was induced to take that action by reason 
of its belief in the truth of the charges contained in the 
challenge, which they were told was libelous, and which 
the law presumed to be false, "and which you have found 
to have been maliciously made," then the jury might 
consider his exclusion from the Convention in estimating 
the damages. The charge was erroneous in two par- 
ticulars. The jury should not have been told, in this 
connection, that the law presumed the charges false, and 
it should not have been indicated that it was their duty 
to find that the publication was malicious. The truth of 
the charges was not an essential element to the defense 
under the plea of privileged communication. Such pre- 
sumption does apply in ordinary actions of slander and 
libel, but when it is shown that the occasion and the 
charges made were of a privileged nature, that presump- 
tion is not of material effect. As to the second objection, 
the issue of malice. Where there is a plea of privileged 
communication, and evidence in support of it, no pre- 
sumption of malice arises, and it is always an issue of 
fact to be determined by the jury upon the evidence. 
(Townsend on Libel, Sec. 209.) 

The charge of the court upon the subject of express 
malice, and the refusal of special charges in relation to 
it, is further complained of. The court defined express 
malice to consist in a desire, growing out of ill will 
toward the plaintiff, to injure him. or in a reckless dis- 
regard of the effects of the libelous publication upon the 
plaintiff. It then instructed them that the actuating 
motive may have been complex, and that they need not 



48-i Appendix. 

determine that the defendants were prompted solely by 
malice, but that they should be found guilty, if malice, 
as denned, entered into the motive which prompted their 
action. The defendants asked an instruction to the effect 
that if the defendants acted in good faith and under a 
sense of duty, believing the charges to be true, that the 
mere fact that they did not like the plaintiff, or were un- 
friendly to him, would not render them liable in dam- 
ages. There was some evidence of unkind, state of feel- 
ing of the defendants, or some of them, toward the plain- 
tiff, but they testified that this did not prompt their ac- 
tions; that they were moved by a sense of duty to the 
Convention, its objects and work, and to the Baptist de- 
nomination. They denied personal ill will toward him, 
but generally admitted that they disliked him on account 
of the course he had pursued in relation to the matters 
covered by the charges contained in the challenge. The 
fact that they entertained such a feeling should not be 
held to prevent them from discharging what they be- 
lieved to be their honest obligations as messengers to the 
Convention, and this point was not properly guarded by 
the charge, and the jury may have attached undue im- 
portance to the evidence of their unfriendliness toward 
the plaintiff. 

The court excluded the evidence of Drs. Buckner and 
Kerfoot, shown to be experienced parliamentarian?, and 
familiar with the standard authors of parliamentary 
works, recognized by the Baptists of Texas and elsewhere, 
tending to show that the manner of the exclusion of Dr. 
Hay den from the Convention, which proceeding the wit- 
nesses personally observed, was in accordance with the 
rules and regulations as understood, interpreted and 
adopted by Baptists in their general bodies everywhere. 
The objection urged was that the testimony was imma- 
terial and irrelevant. Plaintiff alleged, and was per- 
mitted to provo. as evidence of malice, that the proceed- 
ings against him were conducted in a harsh and unfair 
manner; that the Committee on Challenge made a report 



Appendix. 485 

sustaining the charges against him without investigating 
or hearing evidence of their truth, and that the defensive 
matter in his favor was excluded from the body of the 
Convention. If such evidence may be introduced to show 
a want of just regard for the rights of the plaintiff; and 
bad feeling as the inciting cause of the publication of the 
libel, common fairness would demand that the defendants 
be permitted to rebut it and show that the proceedings 
were regular and in compliance with the parliamentary 
rules and usages generally adopted by Baptists in their 
general bodies. The various extracts from such parlia- 
mentary authors tendered in evidence, however, were 
properly excluded. (1 Greenleaf on Evidence, Sec. 162.) 
The witnesses who knew the facts and testified to them, 
and who had qualified as expert parliamentarians, should 
have been permitted to . express their opinions that the 
proceeding was regular and according to parliamentary 
usage. 

Appellants complain of the presentation of the case 
by the court to the jun^, because it failed to present their 
defenses to the jury; allowed them no opportunity to 
secure a verdict, ( except upon the basis of non-participa- 
tion in the publication, while it detailed and reiterated 
the grounds upon which appellee was entitled to recover. 
This is a just complaint against the charge. The only 
defense presented to the jury arose under the general 
issue of not guilty to the charge of publication. This 
course on the part of the trial Judge was doubtless taken 
by reason of the Judge's conception of the effects result- 
ing from the failure of the defendants to plead the truth 
of the alleged libelous charges in justification. That 
character of plea is a plea in the nature of confession and 
avoidance under which the burden of the case practically 
rests on the defendants. The failure to confess the pub- 
lication and excuse it by affirming the truth of the mat- 
ter published does not cut the defendant off from any 
other legitimate defense. He must plead the truth of 
the libelous matter published if he would avail himseJf 



486 Appendix. 

of it as a perfect defense to the action; but his failure 
to do so does not destroy any other defense which may be 
urged to such an action. A* legally sulficient plea of 
privileged communication, if properly supported by 
proof, is a perfect defense to an action for damages, and 
it should not have been ignored in this charge. 

It is urged that the court erred in the charge in over- 
ruling special exceptions and admitting evidence in re- 
lation to the elements of damage. It is claimed that in- 
jury to appellee's character as a minister of the gospel 
and editor of a Baptist paper; injury to his newspaper 
business and injury by his exclusion from the Conven- 
tion, were all matters of special damage, which were not 
sufficiently alleged, and should not have been considered. 
It was alleged that he was a Baptist minister and editor 
of a religious paper of the Baptist denomination, and the 
charges made against him necessarily, if believed, brought 
his character in these capacities into disrepute. Injury 
to his character as such minister and editor, therefore, 
w r ould be implied from the charges, and would constitute 
such general damages as need not be specifically alleged 
or proven. (2 Sedg. on Damages, Sec. 443; 3 Suth. on 
Damages, p. 643-645; 2 Greenleaf on Evidence, Sec. 
420.) 

His exclusion from the Convention and injury to his 
newspaper business are subjects of special damage re- 
quired to be specially alleged and proven. The petition 
specially alleged these as elements of damage, with suffi- 
cient particularity, and there was no error in allowing 
evidence in support thereof, and authorizing the jury to 
consider them in estimating the damages sustained by 
appellee. (Suth. on Damages, p. 622; Newell on Libel, 
p. 838, Sec. 1 ; lb., p. 849, Sec. 16.) 

Appellant insists that the original written challenge 
and the original written minutes of the Convention were 
the best evidence, respectively, of the contents of the 
challenge and of the proceedings of the Convention in 
relation thereto, and that the court erred in allowing a 



Appendix. 487 

printed copy of the minutes and the publication in The 
Texas Standard to be read in evidence. The objection 
was that the evidence offered was secondary in character, 
the loss of the original sources was not shown, and no 
legally sufficient reason presented for resorting to second- 
ary evidence. Before the trial of the case, notice was 
served upon counsel for the defendants to produce the 
written challenge, or that secondary evidence of its con- 
tents would be used. One- of the defendants, Baten, was 
Secretary of the Convention, and as such the written 
challenge went into his hands. It was not shown what 
final disposition was made of it. It appears to have been 
published in obedience to a resolution of the Convention. 
The copy of the printed minutes and the publication in 
The Texas Baptist Standard were originals, as each of 
these publications were alleged to be libelous publications, 
and damages were sought to be recovered therefor. As 
to the contents of the written challenge published by be- 
ing read to the Convention, the writing itself is, of course, 
primary evidence of its contents. The notice to produce 
it, served on the defendants' attorneys, and their failure 
to do so, should be held to authorize secondary evidence, 
if they are properly chargeable with its possession. It 
can hardly be said that any of the defendants, save Baten, 
could be charged with such possession, and it is con- 
tended that his possession was in the official character 
of Secretary of the Convention, and not as an individual, 
and for this reason he should not be held bound by such 
notice to produce the paper. It does not appear that such 
papers should go into the hands of any of the corporate 
officials, no corporate action was based on it, and it is 
not shown that they are required to be preserved by any 
one. Each annual convention seems to be distinct and 
independent of the one which preceded it, and such pa- 
pers, when they have been acted on by the Convention 
and passed into the published proceedings, would appear 
to have no further useful purpose. Under such condi- 
tions the paper could not well be treated as a document 



488 Appendix. 

held in official capacity for another. And if this view 
be correct, the defendant, Baten, is the appropriate per- 
son to charge with the possession of the paper, as it prop- 
erly went into his hands, and no reason is shown why it 
should pass to any other possession. It may be ques- 
tioned, however, whether this would settle the question as 
to the other defendants. Jones, on Evidence, treats a 
writing of this kind as being of such a transient nature 
that court.- will recognize the uncertainty and difficulty 
of locating it, and will relax the rule requiring the pro- 
duction of the original. He states that a resolution read 
before a public meeting may be proved by parole, with- 
out accounting for the original, basing the proposition 
upon two English cases cited, which are not available to 
us. (1 Jones' on Evidence, 460-461, Sec. 204.) 

We have had some difficulty in recognizing the pub- 
lished minutes of the Convention read in evidence, under 
the conditions stated, as coming within any of the rec- 
ognized exceptions to the general rule, requiring the pro- 
duction of the original written paper carried into such 
printed minutes. We are inclined to think, however, that 
the rule should not be applied to papers to which there 
attaches no particularly appropriate or known possession. 

We have found it utterly impracticable to treat each 
assignment of error in the opinion, by reason of the vast 
number presented ; but have attempted to cover all the 
material issue? involved on the appeal. 

The judgment is reversed and cause remanded. 

Finley, Chief Justice. 

THE STATE OF TEXAS. 

I, George W. Blair, Clerk of the Court of Civil Ap- 
peals in and for the Fifth Supreme Judicial District of 
Texas, do hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a 
true and correct copy of the original opinion in the cause 
of J. B. Cranflll vs. S. A. Hayden, No. 2,868, which is 
now of record in this court. 

To certifv which. I hereunto set mv hand and affix 



Appendix. 489 

the seal of said court at Dallas, this 24th day of Febru- 

George W. Blair, Clerk. 



ary, 1900. 



Extract from the opinion of the Court of Civil Ap- 
peals for the First Supreme Judicial District of Texas, 
in the case of the Wallis Baptist church, rendered in 
1899: 

"The government of Baptist churches is, as we under- 
stand, purely congregational, wherein a majority vote of 
the church controls. It has its associations and conven- 
tions voluntarily formed for certain purposes, but these 
are not empowered, and do not assume actions of the 
churches. Councils are constituted for purposes purely 
advisory, and to aid by their advice and counsel, perhaps, 
in bringing about settlements and reconciliations when 
dissensions arise; but their decisions are not on the 
churches. The associations and conventions have the 
right to determine their own membership, and this is 
all they assumed in this instance to do." 

THE END— E PLUKIBUS TJNUM. 



NOV o iwu 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



022 169 645 1 



